A former NBA Coach of the Year awardee and three-time NBA champion, Byron Scott is interested in exploring coaching opportunities here.
In Philippine basketball history, there have been several foreigners who have graced the PBA as head coaches. There’s Glenn McDonald, the former NBA champion and PBA import who became the first American PBA coach in the early 1980s. Then there’s former UNLV coach Bill Bayno, who took over the Talk ‘N Text Phone Pals in the early aughts. Veteran international coach Rajko Toroman has also coaches a couple of pro teams here.
All due respect to those names just mentioned, but we could soon see the biggest and most recognizable coaching personality hit local shores, if he gets his wish.
Byron Scott, a three-time NBA champion, NBA Coach of the Year winner, and mentor to countless NBA stars, is interested in exploring coaching opportunities in the Philippines.
Hardcore NBA fans know all about Scott as a player. He won three NBA titles as backcourt mate of Magic Johnson on the Showtime Lakers of the 1980s. He also played for the Indiana Pacers and Vancouver Grizzlies in a 14-year NBA playing career that started and ended with the Lakers.
Scott got into coaching shortly after his playing career winded down. He spent 16 seasons on the NBA sidelines, 14 as a head coach for four different franchises. He led the New Jersey Nets to back-to-back Finals appearances in 2002-03 and was named Coach of the Year in 2008 with the New Orleans Hornets. He is also one of only a handful of coaches in league history who have coached both the East and West All-Stars in the All-Star Game.
Oh, and he coached Kobe Bryant’s last NBA game.
Now, Byron Scott wants to share his knowledge with Filipino players. The development was first reported by the Philippine Star through American coach and former Philippine national team consultant Paul Howard, and on Friday The GAME was able to confirm it from the man himself.
“Oh, absolutely,” Scott told this writer in a phone conversation on Friday morning. “It’s something that I’ve been thinking about for the last couple of years. Obviously, with my wife being Filipino, we’ve been to the Philippines on a couple of occasions.”
Scott took the call from Las Vegas, where is vacationing with his Filipina wife, the former CeCe Gutierrez. In 2016, they watched a PBA Christmas Day double-header at the Philippine Arena. The experience left a strong impression on him.
“I just love the people. I really do. I just love the people. And I went to a couple of games. The big game, matter of fact, I went to the game on Christmas Day (Manila Clasico). And I just love the enthusiasm. I love the fans. And I just thought it would be great to coach in an environment like that. So that is, you know, one of the many reasons.
“And I see the love that the Filipino young men that play the game of basketball have for the game. You know, in the last couple of years of watching March Madness and NBA games, I’ve just got that feel to get back in there and coach again. So I’m excited about it and hope I get the opportunity.”
Coaching legends of the game
Byron Scott’s coaching résumé speaks for itself. No other coach in the Philippines can say that he coached for so long at the highest level. The lessons he collected over 30-plus years as a player and coach are what he wishes to share with Filipino players.
“Well, I think my experience is the biggest attribute and the passion that I still have for the game of basketball. And I’m a born teacher, born leader. So those are things that I think would be something that can elevate not only a player but a team as well.
“And again, like I said, I love the game. I miss the game. You know, not being in that seat for the last six, seven years is just something that I just had thought about over the last couple of years of getting back into it.
“So those are the things from a positive standpoint that I bring to the table that can really help an organization.”
Also, few NBA coaches can match the number of superstars that have played for Byron Scott.
“I’ve coached some of the greatest point guards in the game,” he said. “You know, Jason Kidd, Baron Davis, Kyrie Irving, Chris Paul. And I coached a guy that you guys know extremely well and helped develop him into being a Sixth Man of the Year, and that’s Jordan Clarkson.”
Without question, though, the biggest star on this list is Kobe Bryant, whom Scott coached for the last two seasons of his storied NBA career.
“The thing that was so great about Kobe, and I’ve said this on a number of occasions, and I think a lot of young players should really listen to me when I say this because I’ve said it a ton of times, but Kobe wasn’t the most talented player in the NBA when he played.
“He played against Vince Carter, who was extremely talented. He played against Tracy McGrady, extremely talented. But Kobe’s heart and his work ethic was greater than anybody I’ve ever seen, and that made him as great as he was as a player because he was able to overcome and – not saying that he didn’t have talent because Kobe was extremely talented – but those two guys I just mentioned were probably more talented, but they didn’t have the desire, they didn’t have the heart, they didn’t have the determination that he had.
“Talent’s going pretty far, but that work ethic and that determination and that ‘wake up every morning to be better the next day’ can take you even farther, and that’s what Kobe Bryant had.”
Charting a new path in the Philippines
While it’s only now that Byron has openly expressed his desire to coach here, moving to the Philippines has actually always been on the Scotts’ options for quite some time.
“My wife and I have always talked about it over the last four or five years, especially just before the pandemic hit because we were making our trips over back to the Philippines. We had planned on going back every year to visit and just have some fun and for her to get to know her family again.
“And the country itself, I just love the country as well. So it’s just a lot of things. My wife and I talked about buying a home over there.”
Scott already has a few friends over here, including Ateneo Blue Eagles assistant and former college teammate Alton Lister.
“I know one of my buddies and ex-teammates that played in college with me, Alton Lister, is over there. And I saw Alton here in Vegas during, I think it was July, during the NBA Players Association meetings. But he had his daughter (with him). So we never got a chance to talk because I wanted to talk to him as well.”
He’s also played golf with Tim Cone.
“I had a great time. I got a chance to spend a little time with him. And then, like I said, the pandemic hit, so I haven’t been in contact with him in the past five years. But just a great guy.”
Byron Scott understands this will be a long process, so he’s eager to get started right away if any team is interested. He can be reached in a variety of ways.
“On my LinkedIn when I sent it out saying that I would love the coach. I have my phone number on there, so it’s very easy on there,” he said. “Or you can e-mail me at OfficialByronScott at gmail dot com or my social media (Facebook or Instagram). So all those outlets are available.”
Banner Images from AFP.