So this was kind of unexpected. Not how Scott feels, but that he would be so blunt about it. By now, we’re all familiar with with the history between Byron Scott and Jason Kidd. Scott was the coach of the Nets, got them to the Finals twice, then, the story goes, was fired by management at the behest of Kidd. On Wednesday Scott and Kidd faced off—as coaches—in the Bucks-Lakers game, before which Scott was asked about Kidd and their history. Here’s what he had to say, via the Orange County Register:
As a first-time head coach with the New Jersey Nets, Byron Scott guided the New Jersey Nets to the NBA Finals. And the anchor of his roster was All-Star point guard Jason Kidd, who carried a bit of a reputation.
“He was kind of known as an (expletive),” Scott said.
Going into his first career coaching matchup with Kidd, who now helms the Milwaukee Bucks (26-22), the first-year Lakers coach didn’t offer much in the way of a rebuttal to that perspective.
Kidd was reportedly at the middle of his firing in 2004, with the Associated Press reporting that Kidd had gone to management to demand a change on the bench.
Asked if that story was accurate, Scott said he was unsure.
“That’s all I’ve heard,” Scott said. “Now, did he actually go talk to Rod Thorn and all those guys? I don’t know. I never got that story. I always said, though, where there’s smoke there fire.
“I’m in a much better place and I’m sure he’s happy where he is, too.”
Kidd’s Bucks beat the Lakers in overtime on Wednesday, 113-105.
