The Los Angeles Lakers are nearing the conclusion of their coaching search. Finally, Mark Medina of the Los Angeles Daily News met with LA Lakers coach Byron Scott on Tuesday, and Scott provided insight into his developing coaching staff.
Scott had selected five of his six assistants: Jim Eyen, Paul Pressey, Mark Madsen, Larry Lewis and Thomas Scott (his son). One position remained open, and the sixth man was rumored to be Igor Kokoskov.
Plug your ears, Lakers fans.
Kokoskov was an assistant to former Lakers coach Mike Brown in Cleveland. Before that, he spent time on the assistant’s pine with the Phoenix Suns from 2008 to 2013. Widely regarded as a talented offensive mind, Kokoskov’s dozen years of NBA coaching experience included time served under Larry Brown with the Detroit Pistons. Yes, he was on Detroit’s bench when the Lakers lost to the Pistons in the 2004 NBA Finals and quickly proceeded to break up the Shaquille O’Neal and Kobe Bryant partnership.
Looking beyond the Lakers’ personal relationship, Kokosov was the first European coach to hold a full-time position with an NCAA Division 1-A school back when he took an assistant coaching position with the University of Missouri in 1999. After 15 years of coaching in the United States at the highest levels, Kokosov would be a worthy addition to the staff.
With regards to the other five men already on staff, Madsen is the most familiar and recognizable face and name. One of the fan favorites from his playing days, Madsen held a position as D-Fenders head coach briefly before moving into the player development assistant coach role under Mike D’Antoni’s Lakers. Under Scott, Madsen’s unique high energy and positive persona will wear more suits and less gym shorts.
A season ago, Lewis was Madsen’s partner working players out before games. Famously, the Madsen and Lewis tandem teamed up on rookie Julius Randle when he came to the Lakers’ facility for a pre-draft workout. Also, Lewis and Madsen took turns coaching the Lakers' Summer League team. With Madsen dressing in suits, Lewis will be joined by Thomas Scott--Byron’s son--as a player development coach. The younger Scott spent nine years as an assistant coach and video coordinator on the NBA and NBA D-League. He previously served as a video coordinator and player development coach when his father was in charge with the New Orleans Hornets from 2006 to 2010 and with the Cleveland Cavaliers during the 2010-11 season.
Following the 2011 season, Scott spent two successful seasons in the Development League with the Canton Charge. In 2013, the younger Scott joined the Lakers’ D-League affiliate as an assistant coach. Everything considered, no one should be surprised to see father and son working together again.
Pressey’s addition to the staff is not unexpected either, but it may serve to be beneficial on several levels. With rookie prospect Randle showing some ball handling and passing abilities in the NBA Summer League, Pressey’s experience as one of the pioneers of the point forward position could prove to be especially positive. After playing in the NBA for over a decade, Pressey served as an assistant with the Cavaliers for three seasons before joining the Lakers.
The final name secured on the roster is that of Eyen. A graduate of the University of California at Santa Barbara, Eyen started his NBA coaching career as an assistant coach in 1988 for the Los Angeles Clippers under Don Casey. One season later, he joined Pat Riley’s staff with the Lakers and stayed on for another season under Mike Dunleavy. Both those years, the Lakers’ current head coach was still a Lakers’ player.
Into his third decade as an NBA assistant, Eyen is the veteran voice on the staff.
With training camp around the corner, media day at the end of the month, eight preseason games in October and two regular seasons by Halloween, the 2014-15 Lakers’ season is approaching fast. Save for the possibility of another addition on the roster and another addition on the bench, the Lakers look ready to go.
