By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
An incident concerning Byron Scott and a sexual assault in 1987 was revealed by the Daily Mail on Tuesday morning.
A three-time NBA champion with the Los Angeles Lakers, NBA Coach of the Year in 2008 as the New Orleans Hornets play-caller, and former player of Panathinaikos during the 1997-98 season, Scott has been accused of sexual battery, sexual assault, false imprisonment and intentional infliction of emotional distress by Hayley Dylan, who was a 15-year-old schoolgirl at the time. She has chosen to reveal her identity rather than remain anonymous.
Scott has admitted sexual contact with the girl but denies knowledge of the age of the minor.
“Our client is devastated by this complaint, a basketball event that took place in 1987. 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,” his attorney Linda Bauermeister explained to the Daily Mail.
A 20-page lawsuit details how Scott forced himself on the girl and afterward discouraged her from telling anyone about the assault. Dylan is seeking a trial by jury and damages of over 25,000 US dollars.
The incident took place in a locked janitor’s closet at an exclusive private school in Los Angeles. Scott was present for an event with the Lakers team, as confirmed by the report. He was then married to his first wife.
Scott and his ex-wife, Anita, have three children. After their divorce in 2014, he married Cece Gutierrez in 2020.