The two formed a bond during the 1996-97 season—Bryant's first and Scott's last—and their tie remains as strong as ever.
As Scott explained to USA Today's Sam Amick, there's a mutual respect between him and Bryant rooted in history, transparency and a similar appreciation for the way the game should be played:
Kobe knows all about me and what I'm about. He knows that I'm an old-school coach who's very demanding on the defensive end and knows that defense and rebounding wins championships, so I think from that point of view we see eye to eye.
Our relationship is great. We talked over the summer. We text each other. His ideas on the game of basketball and my ideas on the game of basketball are a lot alike, so we share a lot of the same views when it comes to the way the game should be played. So to me, it's going to be fun.
Scott can check off several boxes on the Lakers' coaching wish list, including experience with the profession and a commitment to the defensive end. Of course, L.A. could find those qualities in another candidate, like former Memphis Grizzlies coach Lionel Hollins or NBA lifer Mike Dunleavy.
What L.A. cannot recreate with another applicant, though, is that relationship with Bryant. That's kind of a big deal, considering general manager Mitch Kupchak already detailed the importance of the franchise's next coach connecting with its brightest star.
"We have to make sure that whoever we hire as a coach can really get the most productivity out of him, whether it's scoring the ball or playmaking or the threat that he may score," Kupchak told reporters. "That's probably of primary importance right now."
Bryant's status as L.A.'s most important player mig...
Article Source: Bleacher Report - Los Angeles Lakers
