Byron Scott

Lore & Background

Scott grew up in Inglewood, California, and played at Morningside High School. He played college basketball at Arizona State University, where he was Pac-10 Freshman of the Year in 1980 and First-team All-Pac-10 in 1983. He averaged 17.5 points per game in his career for the Sun Devils. He left after his junior year, entering the 1983 NBA draft.

In 2011, his No. 11 was retired by Arizona State. Selected by the San Diego Clippers with the fourth pick of the 1983 NBA draft, Scott was traded to the Los Angeles Lakers in 1983 in exchange for Norm Nixon. He played for the Lakers for 10 consecutive seasons (1983–1993), winning three NBA championships (1985, 1987, 1988). As a rookie, he was on the 1984 all-rookie team, averaging 10.6 PPG in 22 MPG.

He led the NBA in three-point field goal percentage (.433) in 1984–85. In 1987–88, Scott enjoyed his best season, leading the NBA champion Lakers in scoring, averaging a career-best 21.7 ppg, and in steals (1.91 spg). He was the Lakers' starting shooting guard from 1984 until 1993. Scott also played for the Indiana Pacers and Vancouver Grizzlies, and later played one season with Panathinaikos in Greece, winning the Greek Basket League championship.

He began his coaching career as an assistant with the Sacramento Kings in 1998, then coached the New Jersey Nets from 2000 to 2003, leading them to two NBA Finals appearances.