Showtime Lakers Legend Byron Scott Accused 38 Years Later of S**ually Assaulting Teen

Byron Scott won three titles with the Los Angeles Lakers and went on to coach Kobe Bryant's final few years in the league.

Showtime Lakers Legend Byron Scott Accused 38 Years Later of S**ually Assaulting Teen

Former Lakers star Byron Scott facing lawsuit (Image via Firstsportz)

Basketball fans know Bryon Scott as one of the prime stars of the Showtime Lakers era. He played alongside Magic Johnson, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, and others to capture three championships. Now he covers the league through his podcast and makes guest appearances on other shows.

His podcast has been extremely insightful, especially when comparing today’s NBA to the era in which he played. Countless times, he has made it clear that the game played today is much softer than it was when he was fighting to stay on the court.

His teammate, Magic Johnson, even echoed that notion while talking about load management. He believes players from their era wanted to play every game. They would argue and fight to get onto the court even if their coaches had other plans.

Now, Byron Scott, at age 64, has to fight another battle. He even needs a top lawyer to argue his innocence, after the LA Times found out that he was accused in a lawsuit of sexually assaulting a 15-year-old student in 1987 at Campbell Hall High School.

The Times uncovered from the lawsuit that when the 26-year-old Scott was alone with the 15-year-old, he pulled her into a room and forced himself onto her. This lawsuit comes forward after a 38-year absence. The victim could come forward with it after all these years, after the California Child Victim’s Act came into effect.

Byron Scott Believed the Teenager Was Above 18 at the Time

This lawsuit will have a detrimental effect on Byron Scott‘s legacy. If proved to be true, it will remain as a black mark on an otherwise clear-cut character. He is known for his aggressiveness, but this lawsuit suggests his judgment was also wrong.

Our client is devastated by this complaint, a basketball event that took place in 1987. Our client believed the plaintiff to be over 18 and had no idea she would claim otherwise until 35 years later. He respects girls and women, and the claims have blindsided him and his family.

Linda Bauermeister’s statement to LA Times

This was Scott’s attorney, Linda Bauermeister‘s statement to the LA Times. From this statement, it seems the shooting guard mistook the victim to be an 18-year-old. The statement also claims that he has been blindsided, considering his work to help the children of California.

While playing for the Los Angeles Lakers, he had initiated ‘The Byron Scott Children’s Fund’ to help children’s charities. He had apparently raised over $15 million while the charity was in existence. However, the former Lakers head coach might not be able to use to fight this lawsuit.

Scott Mentored and Coached Kobe Bryant

Byron Scott won three NBA titles with the Showtime Lakers in his first stint with his hometown franchise. Then, after spending three seasons with different teams, he came back to sign with the Los Angeles Lakers. He knew it was not going to be a role similar to what he had in his first stint.

Byron Scott coached as well as mentored Kobe Bryant
Byron Scott coached as well as mentored Kobe Bryant (Image via NBA on ESPN/X)

This time, he was more of a mentor to Shaquille O’Neal, Kobe Bryant, and the other Lakers stars. He could be credited with instilling that championship mentality as that duo went on to win three straight titles a few years later.

Kobe Bryant did not forget the veteran’s impact and played a role in bringing him back as his head coach. But Scott was coaching a Lakers team that was made up of a struggling and aging Bryant and a bunch of young prospects.

The franchise decided not to pick up his contract option, as they wanted to build through a new structure after Bryant’s retirement. But even then, Scott is part of the Lakers’ legacy, having his fingerprints on multiple championships.

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