The plot began to thicken on Tuesday when it was announced that Byron Scott was interviewed for a second time by the Los Angeles Lakers. Scott has widely been considered the favorite for the job in Los Angeles, but the team has vowed to do their due diligence in finding the right man.
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A day after Scott interviewed once again, rumors have surfaced that he is one of three primary candidates for the vacant position, according to Bleacher Report’s Howard Beck:
Another Jackson loyalist, Kurt Rambis, could join the Knicks as Fisher’s lead assistant. However, Rambis also remains a favorite for the Lakers’ head-coaching position, according to league sources. The Lakers have interviewed at least a half-dozen coaches, but sources say they are focused on three primary candidates: Rambis, Alvin Gentry and Byron Scott.
With Rambis set to talk to Phil Jackson and Derek Fisher about joining the new coaching staff of the New York Knicks, it may be a foregone conclusion that he’s headed to the East Coast. Rambis has maintained a close relationship with Jackson and may fit in perfectly with what Fisher and company want to do in New York, but the allure of becoming the next head coach of the Lakers might be enough to convince him to stay in Los Angeles.
As for Alvin Gentry, it is uncertain how high the Lakers are on making him the new head coach. When reports surfaced about Gentry interviewing for the position, many believed the team was simply doing the rounds in terms of interviewing coaching candidates. That stance may have changed if Beck’s sources are on the money.
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Even though Gentry and Rambis may be near the top of the list for the head coaching vacancy in Los Angeles, Scott still remains the favorite and seems to have the backing of both the fans and Kobe Bryant. A lethal combination that might ultimately make Scott the next head coach of the storied franchise in the coming weeks.
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