Byron Scott has faced a lot of questions about his job security this season. With the Lakers once again one of the worst teams in the league, at one point this year it seemed like a foregone conclusion that Scott would be fired. The young talent was struggling and the team's record reflected that. However, after key victories in the last few weeks, Scott could be saved.
Scott's job status was a top headline in the NBA during the All-Star break. At that point, a win was rare for the Lakers. D'Angelo Russell was getting benched. Julius Randle was struggling. Kobe Bryant was a shell of his normal self. Scott was taking the brunt of the criticism as many wondered if he was the right man for the job. At the time, general manager Mitch Kupchak did not give the vote of confidence towards Scott, but he also did not say the coach would be fired.
"Byron is under contract, and until that changes, or if that changes, I'll let you know," Kupchak said. "Once again, I don't want to get into a Byron discussion right now. So I'm not going to really answer any more questions about Byron, because I'm concerned that one question will lead to another, and if his status changes, I will let you know."
The opinions around Scott are starting to change and much of that is because of D'Angelo Russell. Scott opted to take the leash off the rookie point guard and put him back into the starting lineup in hopes that he would start playing like the No. 2 overall draft pick. Russell has been doing just that as the Lakers got a win over the Golden State Warriors and then defeated the Orlando Magic. Scott would only say that Russell's maturity and understanding of the game have led him to be a developing star.
"It was about a little over a month ago where I felt, I wouldn't necessarily say turn the keys over to [Russell], but I could trust him more to do things on a night-to-night basis," Scott said. "And the fact that I thought he was a little bit more humble and a little more understanding that he hadn't earned it. It's something that he has to earn - not only with himself and with the coaching staff, but with his teammates more than anything. Now I think he's worked a lot harder and he's getting to the point where the guys in the locker room are starting to respect him even more."
The Lakers need their young talent to develop as they will be the keys to the future after Bryant retires. Scott had been criticized for how he was leading that development, but it is clear things are starting to work out. His dynamic with Russell is paying off in wins and could pay off in job security as well.
Kupchak is thinking long-term with the franchise which will dictate how the summer and free agency go. Scott has proven he can be a quality coach, but does Kupchak believe in him for years to come? He has certainly turned things around this season as Russell and Randle now look like potential stars. If that continues, Scott could be around for a while.
"This is what we thought they could play like," Scott said. ""From the start of the season, we all knew it was going to take these guys time. It's just a matter of how much time."
