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Scott talks to Lakers; Kupchak in no rush
Jeff Hawkins is an award-winning sportswriter with more than four decades in the industry (print and digital media). A freelance writer/stay-at-home dad since 2008, Hawkins started his career with newspaper stints in Michigan, North Carolina, Florida, Upstate New York and Illinois, where he earned the 2004 APSE first-place award for column writing (under 40,000 circulation). As a beat writer, he covered NASCAR Winston Cup events at NHIS (1999-2003), the NHL's Chicago Blackhawks (2003-06) and the NFL's Carolina Panthers (2011-12). Hawkins penned four youth sports books, including a Michael Jordan biography. Hawkins' main hobbies include mountain bike riding, 5k trail runs at the Whitewater Center in Charlotte, N.C., and live music.
All posts by Jeff HawkinsUpdated15 Oct 2021
Byron Scott interviewed with the Los Angeles Lakers on Tuesday as a potential head coaching candidate for the team he played for from 1983-1993.
The job has been open for a month since it was decided that Mike D’Antoni would not return for the 2014-15 season. Mike Dunleavy is known to be a candidate, but he also interviewed with the New York Knicks.
General manager Mitch Kupchak said on a conference call Wednesday that the Lakers are just beginning the process.
“I’m sure (coaching candidate) names will come out within the next couple of days, but we have started our process and we intend to continue the process in terms of talking to potential coaches, whether they’re informal or formal interviews,” Kupchak said. “I would not anticipate hiring a coach in the next two to three weeks, but we’ll interview several — more than three or four probably. Yes, we have begun.”
Scott has a 416-521 record in 13 seasons as a head coach, most recently with the Cleveland Cavaliers from 2010-2013.
“There’s no urgency right now, so it will be a more deliberate process,” said Kupchak.
The extended window invites speculation that Oklahoma City Thunder guard Derek Fisher is a candidate. He’s also thought to be high on the Knicks’ list, but remains an active player and has yet to indicate he plans to coach next season.
The 60-year-old Dunleavy last coached in the NBA with the Los Angeles Clippers in 2010. In 17 seasons as a head coach, he compiled a 613-716 record and led teams to seven playoff appearances.
Dunleavy coached the Clippers from 2003 to 2010 and the Lakers from 1990 to 1992. He led the Lakers to a 101-63 record with one trip to the NBA Finals in 1991.
Earlier, the New York Post reported that Knicks president of basketball operations Phil Jackson met with Dunleavy over breakfast in Chicago during the NBA Draft Combine last week.
The Knicks are trying to replace Mike Woodson, who was ousted after the season. Steve Kerr was believed to be the leading candidate for the position, but he accepted instead the head coaching job with the Golden State Warriors.
