Head coach Byron Scott of the Los Angeles Lakers addresses the media after the Lakers defeat the Utah Jazz 101-96 at Staples Center on April 13, 2016 in Los Angeles, California. AFP File photo
LOS ANGELES, California—Byron Scott will not return to coach the Los Angeles Lakers next season.
The Lakers announced the decision late Sunday night.
Scott coached the Lakers for the two worst seasons in the 16-time NBA champion franchise’s history, going 38-126.
The Lakers are making a clean break from the Kobe Bryant era by firing the coach who shepherded the superstar guard’s farewell season, but couldn’t coax many wins out of an otherwise dismal roster.
Los Angeles finished with the NBA’s second-worst record at 17-65 this season, losing four more games than in its previous franchise-worst season in 2014-15.
General manager Mitch Kupchak says “it is in the best interest of the organization to make a change at this time.”