Lakers Season Countdown: 4 days, Byron Scott

We're getting ready for a brand new season of Los Angeles Lakers basketball, so to count down the days we'll be looking at the best Lakers to wear the number. We'll continue at 4 days until the regular season begins, with one of the longest tenured Lakers.

Who wore it the best: Byron Scott

(Credit: Focus On Sport, Getty Images)

Byron Scott is currently tied as the 7th longest tenured Laker in team history, along with Elgin Baylor. Those above him include Cooper, Magic, Worthy, West, Bryant & Kareem. Quite a list to be included in for the former #4 overall pick in the 1983 NBA draft. Scott was actually drafted by the Los Angeles Clippers, but was sent to the Lakers in a draft day trade for Norm Nixon. Jerry West, Lakers GM at the time, felt that Scott would compliment Magic much better than Norm Nixon could, as Nixon and Magic were both passing point guards.

Scott was a starter from day 1, and was the Lakers starting shooting guard for 10 straight seasons. Scott made the All-Rookie team in 1984, led the NBA in 3PT FG% at 43.3% during the 1985 season, was a 3-time NBA Champion; winning in 1985, 87 & 88, and led the 1988 Championship team in scoring at 21.7 points per game & steals at 1.9 steals per game. After the 1993 season, Scott played 2 seasons in Indiana and 1 in Vancouver, before coming back to the Lakers for the 1996-97 season. He was a mentor to a 17 year old rookie named Kobe Bryant. Scott went on to play a year in Greece, where he won the Greek Basketball League Championship, before retiring from playing, and started a coaching career.

Scott became an assistant coach in Sacramento before becoming the head coach for the New Jersey Nets. The Nets would reach the NBA Finals under Scott two years in a row, but he was dismissed from the team after 4 years. He then coached the New Orleans Hornets for 6 seasons and the Cleveland Cavaliers for 3 seasons. Scott is going into his 2nd year as head coach of the Lakers. His overall coaching record is 437-582 (.429).

Who wore it last: Ryan Kelly

After 4 years of college ball at Duke University, Ryan Kelly entered the 2013 NBA draft, and was selected by the LA Lakers with the 18th pick in the second round. In his rookie season, Kelly appeared in 59 games, starting in 25 of those games, and averaged 8.0 points, 3.7 rebounds, 1.6 assists, 0.5 steals & 0.8 blocks in 22.2 minutes per game. His strong play at power forward, due to several injuries, caused the Lakers to extend Kelly the QO to make him a RFA.

After reaching a new two year deal with the Lakers, Kelly headed into his sophomore season with plenty of chances to prove himself, as the Lakers starting power forward the precious season, Pau Gasol, was no longer on the team. But, with the surprise signing on Carlos Boozer, the steady play of Ed Davis and the emergence of Tarik Black, Ryan Kelly was forced to find playing time as a small forward. Learning a new position, his numbers dipped a bit even though he got the same amount of playing time. Kelly is currently under contract with the Lakers for the upcoming season.

#4 - Who has worn it:

Joe Hutton (1952)

Adrian Dantley (1978-1979)

Byron Scott (1984-1993 & 1997)

Frankie King (1996)

Ron Harper (2000-2001)

Luke Walton (2004-2012)

Antawn Jamison (2013)

Ryan Kelly (2014 - future)