Byron Scott sat at the dais and made one thing clear.
"The first thing that Magic [Johnson] taught me when I got in this league is that we win championships by defending every single night," Scott said. "You're going to miss shots, you're going to make shots. But the one thing you control every single night is your effort on the defensive end."
On July 29, 2014, Scott was hired as the Lakers' 21st coach. Happier times were seemingly ahead.
The final score Friday reflected nothing Scott hoped to bring to the franchise that employed him for 11 years as a player: Sacramento Kings 132, Lakers 114.