14. Byron Scott
Considering all of the hardship Byron Scott is currently putting Lakers fans through, it is extremely hard to look at him in any shade of positive light, but as a player, Scott was something else.
In a trade that sent Norm Nixon to the the Donald Sterling owned Los Angeles Clippers, the Lakers received their fourth overall pick, in a move that was heavily questioned at the time.
Having won two championships in recent years, critics and supporters alike question why you’d break up a championship caliber team to bring in a rookie. With hindsight behind 20/20, the decision was a great one, with the Lakers winning three more championships and Byron Scott serving as a key factor.
Playing in the golden age of Showtime, Scott was the perfect slashing two guard alongside Magic Johnson. Despite only being 6’3″, Scott made up for his lack of height with impressive athleticism.
Upon coming to the Lakers, similar to Tony Kukoc on the Chicago Bulls, Scott was first treated as a hostile and was required to pay his dues before any respect was passed his way.
The irony lies in the fact that despite being a great player, a la Magic, Byron proves every day that it doesn’t translate over to being a great coach.
Next: No. 13 Pau