Broadcaster and former UCLA player Don MacLean and Lakers head coach Byron Scott have growing beef over D’Angelo Russell
Before the Los Angeles Lakers ever selected him in the 2016 NBA Draft, D’Angelo Russell was getting ready for the draft with the help of former UCLA Bruin and NBA player and current Los Angeles Clippers analyst Don MacLean. That is to say, MacLean knows Russell and his talents quite well.
So that’s why it wasn’t wholly surprising when, in the Lakers last matchup with the Clippers, MacLean was left echoing the sentiments that many fans have in saying that Lakers head coach Byron Scott was handling Russell’s rookie season poorly and that Russell would be better served playing big minutes and being allowed to make mistakes.
Byron was asked about these comments at Lakers practice on Monday and was quite defiant and disrespectful, especially with how he started his quote by saying, “Well, first of all to Don, that’s why you not coaching:”
Scott responds to criticism from Don MacLean and others who have questioned his handling of rookie D'Angelo Russell pic.twitter.com/NkceFEk37i
— Bill Oram (@billoram) February 1, 2016
However, MacLean took exception to these comments—as most people would considering Scott’s tone—and wasn’t about to remain silent and not respond. Respond he did later on Monday while talking on AM 570 LA Sports.
MacLean started off by just burning Byron to a crisp:
Don MacLean on @AM570LASports: "Just because you choose to coach doesn't mean you're a good coach."
— Mark Medina (@MarkG_Medina) February 2, 2016
Then he really got to the heart of the issue regarding Russell, talking about the 19-year-old point guard’s lack of improvement and progression throughout the first 50 games of the season under Scott’s tutelage:
Don MacLean on @AM570LASports, "D’Angelo, 50 games in, doesn’t look any different than he did in Game 1."
— Mark Medina (@MarkG_Medina) February 2, 2016
Don MacLean on @AM570LASports: "So all the development & protecting Byron is talking about doing really hasn’t done anything him any good"
— Mark Medina (@MarkG_Medina) February 2, 2016
Most Lakers fans would whole-heartedly agree with MacLean in this case and, though Byron’s right in saying that he’s not a coach, this isn’t just a talking head spewing nonsense. Just like Scott, this is a former player who knows the ins and outs of Russell’s ability after working with him this summer.
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What’s mortifying, though, is that this season with Byron at the helm has devolved into him basically starting a beef with an analyst for another team. While it may be wholly hilarious to have MacLean ether Scott with comments like his first response, it’s only perpetuating the problem of this team generally being the least fun circus ever for much of this season.