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03/28/2024 10:38:12 am

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NBA News: Lakers Fire Byron Scott after Worst Season in Franchise History

Former Los Angeles Lakers coach Byron Scott

(Photo : Getty Images) The Los Angeles Lakers have fired head coach Byron Scott after two losing seasons with one of the NBA’s winningest franchises, recent reports say.

The Los Angeles Lakers have fired head coach Byron Scott after two losing seasons with one of the NBA's winningest franchises, recent reports say.

ESPN reported that the 55-year-old former New Jersey Nets, New Orleans Hornets, and Cleveland Cavaliers head coach "will not return to coach the Los Angeles Lakers next season" after finishing the 2015-2016 regular season with the league's second-worst record of 17-65, the Lakers' worst of all-time.

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The record has four more losses than last season, which was the previous all-time worst record, and Scott managed to pull it off both under his supervision.

The report noted, though, that it was a "recognition" that was "impossible to evaluate" as Scott had handled perhaps one of the poorest rosters also in franchise history during his two-season tenure. However, the Lakers said to have "felt they needed a new vision that embraced the current style of wide-open play and outside shooting".

It was also mentioned that the firing was brought about the sense of urgency coming into the free-agency period as the team is expected to make them a more attractive destination for big-name free agents such as Kevin Durant, LeBron James, Andre Drummond, DeMar DeRozan, Mike Conley, and Hassan Whiteside.

"We would like to thank Byron for his hard work, dedication and loyalty over the last two years but have decided it is in the best interest of the organization to make a change at this time," said general manager Mitch Kupchak in an official statement.

Scott, who was a former shooting guard of championship Lakers teams with Magic Johnson, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, James Worthy in the 1980s, was expectedly disappointed about the development and said to have "understood that his job was in jeopardy" as early as last week.

"This is my dream job, and obviously, you want the opportunity to turn it all around," said Scott said. "But I understand the business of basketball, and it's all about wins and losses."

Potential candidates to replace Scott are "Golden State Warriors assistant Luke Walton, former Houston Rockets and New York Knicks coach Jeff Van Gundy, Connecticut coach Kevin Ollie, and San Antonio Spurs assistant Ettore Messina", as per Yahoo Sports.

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