(Ep020) Byron Scott (Part 1): Leadership Lessons from the Showtime Lakers, How A Near Miss with Murder Led his Father to Faith, and His Favorite Michael Jordan Story
A lot of basketball legends are either great players or coaches. But Byron Scott is one of the few who can legitimately claim to be both (though he’s too humble to say so). As a member of the Los Angeles Lakers’ Showtime dynasty, Byron won three NBA championships. He also lost a few bitterly contested Finals showdowns with the Lakers’ arch nemesis: the Boston Celtics.
Once he moved from the hardwood to the bench, Byron quickly asserted his strong values and coaching principles, leading the New Jersey Nets to the NBA Finals and earning Coach of the Year honors. He went on to coach Kobe Bryant in the twilight of his career, and make a mark as a mentor on the young guns who are now in starring roles for teams across the League.
In this episode, Byron reveals:
What made the leadership group of Magic Johnson, Pat Riley, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, and James Worthy work so well
What Riley taught him about standing firm in the face of adversity
Why he came to faith following his father’s close brush with death and how this guides his life
His favorite MJ story
Want to hear more from Byron? Follow him on Instagram and listen to his excellent show, Off the Dribble with Byron Scott.
