LOS ANGELES – Byron Scott has told a CBS affiliate station that he is the Los Angeles Lakers' new coach.
Scott told KCBS-TV he has reached a deal with the Lakers, who haven't had a coach since Mike D'Antoni resigned April 30.
Yet the Lakers insisted they haven't yet reached a deal to hire Scott, the longtime Lakers shooting guard. He has been a head coach with New Jersey, New Orleans and Cleveland.
ESPN.com first reported Scott would take over the Lakers with a four-year, $17 million contract.
Scott spent last season as a television commentator on the Lakers' own network. He was Kobe Bryant's teammate during Bryant's rookie year with the Lakers in 1996-97.
Los Angeles finished 27-55 last season, compiling the most losses in the 16-time NBA champions' history.