The Showtime Lakers era is one memorable time engraved in people’s hearts. Magic Johnson, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, and many other legendary players changed the game and influenced the era like no other. Byron Scott is one such legend who made basketball more interesting and entertaining. Following this, he made valuable contributions as a coach as well. Despite all this, after all these years, he is yet to be recognized with a Hall of Fame honor. And just recently, he opened up about his feelings on the matter.

During a conversation with Scoop B Robinson, the basketball legend was asked about his thoughts on the Hall of Fame. He spoke highly of the honor and even expressed his desire to get inducted. “Oh I would love to be a Hall of Famer,” Scott said.

However, Scott clarified that if, by any chance, this doesn’t happen, it won’t lessen the impact he had on the sport. He stated how getting into the Hall of Fame is the dream of every basketball player.

“I think anybody that played in the NBA and said that they don’t care about it is lying, you know? You would love to be a Hall of Famer! But that won’t define who I was as a basketball player and it doesn’t define who I am as a man. So if it happens, that’s great. It would be a blessing. If it doesn’t happen, it doesn’t change my life either,” the Lakers legend added as he made his way into the induction ceremony of his friend and the 5x NBA champ Michael Cooper. 

The 3x NBA All-Star was instrumental in leading the Lakers during the Showtime era. He was a starter for the team alongside Johnson, Abdul-Jabbar, James Worthy, and A.C. Green. Playing for 10 long years with the Lakers, he won 3 championship titles with the franchise.

Scott’s name was even advocated by Hall of Famer Michael Cooper. Cooper, who was inducted this year, mentioned during the interview that he would like to see his former teammate get inducted into the Hall of Fame as well. When the 3x NBA champion was asked about Cooper, he described feeling proud.

Byron Scott is proud and happy for Michael Cooper 

Scott, who has played alongside Cooper, is also a witness to how much they have struggled over the years. When asked about the same, Scott had nothing but immense love and respect for the legend.

“I love Coop like a brother because I’ve been through wars with that man and I understand what that man has gone through and what he meant to the game of basketball and especially what he meant to the Los Angeles Lakers,” Scott said.

The former Los Angeles Lakers legend further added, “So, for him to get inducted I was so happy and proud of him. I thought it was well overdue. I thought he deserved it years ago, but to see him get in and then start talking about that I should be in and all that other stuff, it just shows the type of teammate and the type of friend and the type of brother that he is.”

The 1987-88 season remains the most remarkable for the champ as well as the Lakers. Scott had the best time of his career, averaging a career-high 21.7 points per game and leading the team. The squad battled through three consecutive seven-game series against the Utah Jazz, Dallas Mavericks, and Detroit Pistons to secure the title.

This saw the Lakers become the first basketball team in 19 years to win back-to-back titles. A golden era for the Lakers indeed!