Byron Scott Says He Doesn’t Have Relationship with Lakers Guard D’Angelo Russell

Anyone paying attention to the Los Angeles Lakers last year could tell things were icy between head coach Byron Scott and rookie D'Angelo Russell.  

With the Lakers entering the 2016-17 season under the guidance of new head coach Luke Walton, Scott is addressing his relationship—or lack thereof—with Russell. 

"I don't have a relationship with D'Angelo," Scott told TMZ (via Victoria Nguyen of the Score). "It is what it is."

Since Walton has taken over, Russell has not been shy in talking about the circus that was the Lakers in 2015-16. 

“Last offseason was Looney Tunes,” Russell recently told Tania Ganguli of the Los Angeles Times. “Wasn’t real. I didn’t get nothing out of it.”

Russell went on to say that this offseason has been "real fun" and he likes where the franchise is headed. 

When asked about Russell's comments by TMZ, Scott said they didn't "bother [him] at all" because his "track record with guards speaks for itself, so I don't pay it really no attention."

Last year, Scott seemed to go out of his way to bash Russell. He benched him in the fourth quarter of a January game against the Dallas Mavericks for what he deemed was the guard being too cocky, per Bill Oram of the Orange County Register.

No one was going to succeed with the Lakers last year because the talent wasn't there and the franchise used most of its resources to make sure Kobe Bryant got a legendary send-off, which was warranted given his stature in the sport and importance to the Lakers.

But Russell has to be a key piece for the future if the Lakers are to avoid a third straight 60-loss season in 2016-17. 

Scott wasn't getting the job done for the Lakers anyway, but not having a relationship with the No. 2 overall pick wasn't going to help him keep his post as head coach for one more year. 
Article Source: Bleacher Report - Los Angeles Lakers