Before Byron Scott officially landed the Lakers’ head coaching job earlier this week, Gary Payton was already being linked to the purple and gold as a potential assistant coach.
According to Gery Woelfel from the Raccine Journal Times, Payton is a candidate to join Scott’s coaching staff in L.A. There’s also a chance The Glove ends up on Jason Kidd’s bench with the Milwaukee Bucks, per Woelfel.
Payton, who is currently an analyst for Fox Sports, was recently asked about the coaching rumors. The former Laker confirmed that he is definitely “interested” in getting into coaching.
“Right now, it’s nothing but rumors,” Payton said. “But I’m interested. I’m interested in talking to whatever team comes to me, those two teams [Lakers and Bucks] [are] there.”
Payton also said it’s “50/50” right now whether he stays with his current job as an analyst or leaves for an assistant coaching position in the NBA.
Kobe Bryant and Payton still have a good relationship to this day – the ex-Seattle SuperSonic even went as far as to call the five-time NBA champion his “little brother” last year – so the Black Mamba would likely welcome the addition of his former teammate to the purple and gold.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=82fvdlSWi-Q
