National Basketball Association

Report: Lakers agree to hire Byron Scott as next head coach

Published Jul. 26, 2014 10:21 p.m. ET

foxsports

After a few months and several interviews, the only real candidate for the Lakers' head-coaching vacancy has landed the job.

Former Los Angeles Lakers player and assistant coach Byron Scott has agreed to terms as the team's new head coach, according to an ESPN report.

Scott was considered by many to be the only serious candidate by the Lakers, despite some media speculation that the team was waiting out the Doc Rivers situation with the Clippers, whose owner Donald Sterling is currently fighting to retain legal control despite an NBA lifetime ban.

Scott played 11 of his 14 NBA seasons with the Lakers (1983-93), highlighted by their Showtime era of the 1980s, winning three NBA titles alongside Magic Johnson and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.

As a head coach, Scott worked 11 seasons with the Nets, Hornets and post-LeBron James Cavaliers — leading New Jersey to a pair of NBA Finals appearances and being named the league's Coach of the Year following the 2007-08 season.

The Lakers have failed to advance past the conference semifinals since 2009-10, when they won their 11th championship. After the ensuing season, legendary coach Phil Jackson retired and Mike Brown was hired. He lasted one full season, but was fired five games into the 2012-13 season. After Bernie Bickerstaff worked five games as interim coach, the Lakers hired Mike D’Antoni, who resigned after almost two full seasons on April 30.

The position remained vacant until Saturday. The day D’Antoni left the team, Lakers general manager Mitch Kupchak said he would begin the search for a new coach immediately. Three months later, it seems he’s pegged his guy, but Scott reportedly had to interview on three separate occasions with team brass before getting the nod.

Los Angeles also formally interviewed former Phoenix Suns coach Alvin Gentry, ex-Clippers coach Mike Dunleavy and one-time Memphis Grizzlies coach Lionel Hollins. Gentry signed with the Golden State Warriors to become an associate coach under new head coach Steve Kerr.