Byron Scott, the former player and coach of the Los Angeles Lakers, is under heavy fire for some serious allegations. These charges stem from the sexual assault of a 15-year-old girl at a team camp in 1987. The lawsuit claims that Scott sexually assaulted the teen. This unfortunate event happened just as the Lakers were about to shoot an instructional basketball video at her high school. At the time of Scott’s alleged incident, Scott was 26 years old.
Because of Scott’s illustrious career, the lawsuit has received a lot of attention. He played a pivotal role in the Lakers’ “Showtime” era, contributing to the team’s NBA championships in 1985, 1987, and 1988. He really hit his stride during the 1987-88 season. He commanded attention, as he led the whole team with a striking average of 21.7 points per game. Scott’s legacy includes mentoring future stars like Shaquille O’Neal and Kobe Bryant, who joined the team as an 18-year-old rookie.
Scott’s personal life has faced criticism as well. He was married to Anita Scott on the date of the alleged assault, with whom he had three children. The couple divorced in 2014. Scott’s most recent marriage is to Cece Gutierrez, who gained notoriety as part of the cast on the reality series “Basketball Wives.”
A judge’s finding earlier this month allows Scott to be named in court documents concerning the lawsuit. This decision comes in the wake of his unsuccessful campaign to get his name off. Linda Bauermeister, his attorney, told The Post that Scott does not deny sexual contact happened. He disputed that allegation, claiming the underage girl was of age at the time.
“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
The allegations continue to take a deep toll on both Scott and the plaintiff. Bauermeister said her client, the former Head Start administrator, is “deeply saddened by this complaint. She emphasized the emotional impact that it has had on him and his family.
Byron Scott has been hired and fired by different countries in recent years. He is still coaching in the Philippines. As the ongoing legal saga plays out, attention has turned to what all this will mean for him personally and professionally in the future.
Leave a Reply