NBA News 2016: Lakers Keeping Coach Byron Scott Until Season's End; Tim Duncan To Be Sidelined Until After All-Star Break
The Los Angeles Lakers are planning to keep head coach Byron Scott with the team, until the end of the 2015-2016 season, at least.
According to a report by Harrison Faigen for SBNation.com's "Silver Screen & Roll," the Lakers' management is not yet keen on letting go of Scott, despite the team's abysmal 10-41 win-loss slate.
In a December report by Mark Medina of the Los Angeles Daily News, general manager Mitch Kupchak, along with vice president for player personnel Jim Buss stood behind Scott as they showed sympathy at how the latter handled a "no-win situation".
The same report adds that over the summer, Scott signed a four-year deal with the Lakers, which was worth $17 million. The team management will be evaluating Scott's immediate future with the team upon the end of the season.
"There are times I probably should've taken the reins off a little bit more," said Scott, on his personal assessment of his coaching. "But there's sometimes I have to put a rein on them and hold them down a little bit."
Meanwhile, San Antonio Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich plans to keep superstar big man Tim Duncan on the sidelines a little longer, which includes the 2016 NBA All-Star game on February 14th.
According to a report by Tom Orsborn for the San Antonio Express News, Popovich says they are "thinkng about all possibilities," as far as Duncan's playing time goes, as the latter is still nursing a sore right knee.
The report adds that the Spurs have struggled on the defensive end with the absence of Duncan, that even 7-foot-3 rookie Boban Marjanovic was not able to be of great help.
Duncan, who has missed five consecutive games so far, has played in 37 games this season. He is averaging 8.9 points, 7.5 rebounds, 1.3 blocks, and 3.0 assists, through 25.9 minutes of playing time per game.