Byron Scott is a former professional basketball player who played in the National Basketball Association (NBA) for 14 seasons. He was born on March 28, 1961, in Ogden, Utah, and grew up in Inglewood, California. Scott attended Morningside High School in Inglewood, where he played basketball and was named California's Mr. Basketball in 1979.
After high school, Scott attended Arizona State University, where he played college basketball for three seasons. In his junior year, he helped lead the Sun Devils to the Pac-10 championship and was named the conference's Player of the Year. Scott decided to forgo his senior year and entered the 1983 NBA draft, where he was selected by the San Diego Clippers with the fourth overall pick.
Scott played for the Clippers for two seasons before being traded to the Los Angeles Lakers in 1984. He quickly became a key player for the Lakers, helping them win three NBA championships in his first four seasons with the team. Scott was known for his sharpshooting from beyond the arc and his ability to defend some of the league's top players.
In 1993, Scott was traded to the Indiana Pacers, where he played for one season before being traded to the Vancouver Grizzlies. He played for the Grizzlies for one season before being traded back to the Lakers in 1996. Scott played two more seasons with the Lakers before retiring in 1997.
After retiring from playing, Scott began his coaching career. He started as an assistant coach for the Sacramento Kings in 1998 before being hired as the head coach of the New Jersey Nets in 2000. In his first season as head coach, Scott led the Nets to the NBA Finals, where they lost to the Lakers. Scott coached the Nets for four seasons before being fired in 2004.
Scott then coached the New Orleans Hornets for five seasons before being hired as the head coach of the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2010. He coached the Cavaliers for three seasons before being fired in 2013. Scott was then hired as the head coach of the Los Angeles Lakers in 2014, but he was fired after two seasons.
Throughout his career, Scott was known for his leadership and his ability to motivate his players. He was also known for his dedication to the game and his work ethic. Scott was a three-time NBA champion as a player and was named to the NBA All-Star team three times. As a coach, he led the Nets to the NBA Finals and was named the NBA Coach of the Year in 2008.
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