Los Angeles Lakers Coach Byron Scott seems to be teaching the value of responsibility to the team’s two rookies in an unorthodox fashion but it is still not clear how these values transcends to better on-court performances.
With a miserable 12-33 win-loss record as of January 27, the Lakers are currently the second worst team in the Western Conference and fourth overall in the NBA. With the possible sidelining of superstar Kobe Bryant the rest of the way for a likely operation, things are surely not looking good for the Showtime basketball franchise.
Superstar point guard is also out even before the 2014-15 NBA season started and Jeremy Lin has been an underwhelming player from the Lakers’ point of view.
Child-rearing skills
In the midst of all these debacles, Coach Byron Scott actually gave the team two rookies Tarik Black and Jordan Clarkson fake baby-rearing duties. Yes, you heard it right – fake babies, as in doll-fake babies!
Black and Clarkson were each given a baby doll that comes with a miniature stroller. They are required to bring the fake babies with them during games and also take them home after each game.
The methodology actually comes off like an initiation to a neophyte joining a fraternity which makes the rookies really look ridiculous as they enter and leave the dugout.
But accordingly, it’s what the coach ordered. Scott even directed them to ensure that no harm or whatever bad should happen to their respective babies. The order was clear. And they should show the same care to the way they do during game days and also at their homes. It is not clear how Scott can monitor the rookies’ fake baby duties while at their homes.
Under intense criticisms
Typical with a team with losing records, Coach Byron Scott have been under intense criticisms from both fans and baskeball aficionados.
But given the kind of roster he has left to deal with, Scott is obviously making the most out of it. And if he can’t help in making the Lakers look good and come with some winning string this season, he is surely working to make things right by planting something for the future of the franchise.
By giving the Lakers rookies fake baby duties, Scott appears to be preparing them mentally and psychologically to take on bigger responsibilities not only to themselves but to the organization.
He wants to imbibe the value of responsibility very early in their professional basketball careers so that it would grow on them both as a player and as a person. Because once they become responsible players, they would learn to value teamwork and strive to make their own positive contributions toward the success of the franchise.
It may be hilarious at this point in time but that is the only silver lining for the Lakers franchise at the moment so Byron Scott is simply making the most out of it.