Los Angeles Lakers: Byron Scott through the ages

Phase 2 with the Los Angeles Lakers: Mentoring Kobe Bryant

In the summer of 1993, with the Showtime era officially over, the Lakers’ front office dismantled what was left and Scott was released. He signed as a free agent for the Indiana Pacers and had some more good seasons.

In 1996, at 35 years old, he was brought back to Los Angeles. This time, he was signed to mentor a rookie who had blown away general manager Jerry West in pre-draft workouts and was meant to claim the shooting guard spot in the future of the franchise.

Who better than Byron to mentor the young stud as a veteran that had played that same role for many years in LA, who was also known for his wisdom and his professionalism?

That season, the final before his retirement, he played the backup shooting guard, while taking a young Kobe Bryant under his wing and teaching him the life of the NBA player, forming a bond that would last for many years to come… until their paths crossed again in a distant future.