Cheers For Ex-Net Scott and Cavaliers

Over the past few days, there's been a lot of talk about mega free agent NBA star LeBron James and his decision to sign with the Miami Heat.

Longtime NBA coach, Byron Scott, who is said to share a number of mutual friends with James, was hired to be the head coach for the Cleveland Cavaliers. There was speculation that part of the reason Scott was given the job was due to his personal connection with James.

Despite the Cavaliers strong push to resign LeBron, he ultimately choose Miami where he felt he had the best chance to win. With stars Chris Bosh and Dwyane Wade already in the picture, it's hard to argue with James' decision to head to South Beach.

The question is, where does Livingston fit into all of this?

In 2000, Byron Scott packed up his things and left his life in California, where he had spent much of his professional playing and coaching career, in order to take a job as the head coach of the New Jersey Nets.  Like some other sports stars who have lived in town —Stanley Cup champion Martin Brodeur and Super Bowl champion David Tyree spent portions of their lives here — Scott and his family choose Livingston as their new home.

It was the first time Scott served as an NBA head coach, so it was anybody's guess as how things would pan out on the court.

During his first season in the Garden State (2000-2001), the Nets continued to struggle and they closed out the season with a disappointing 26-56 record.

However, under Scott's tutelage, the Nets were transformed into a serious playoff contender in the very next season. As a matter of fact, the team made it all the way to the NBA Finals before being eliminated by the Los Angeles Lakers.

Despite an early exit in the Finals, Scott's Nets came back with a chip on their shoulder the following year and once again made it all the way to the final round before being eliminated.

It was a miraculous turnaround for a team that had disappointed its fan base for many years. Even more miraculous was Scott's down to earth attitude.

Unlike most celebrities, who tend to keep to themselves, Scott made it a point to be involved in the Livingston community. He was no celebrity; he was just a 'dad."

Scott could be seen routinely driving his son to Mt. Pleasant Middle School, even on nights when he had to coach in front of thousands of fans at the Continental Airlines Arena.

In addition, he was often seen in the bleachers cheering on his only daughter, LonDen, when she took to the court as a member of the Livingston Lancers basketball team.

Once, at the height of the Nets' popularity, Scott personally signed a Nets team photo for nearly four hundred of his son's Middle School classmates.

Unfortunately, even being a good guy couldn't save Scott from losing his job with the Nets in the midst of the 2003-2004 season. Soon after, he left Livingston to take the position of head coach of the New Orleans Hornets. It was there that Scott's team once again made a run at the championship, but was denied. Toward the tail end of 2009, Scott was dismissed from his coaching duties after a poor start to the season.

Scott has since returned to the spotlight. On July 2, he was formally announced as the new head coach of the Cleveland Cavilers.  While the news that James will not be on his roster must surely be disappointing, Scott could still be a contender.  Scott will once again have to build a championship squad from scratch, just like he did in New Orleans and New Jersey.

Nonetheless, it is safe to assume that come the start of the NBA season, Scott will have many supporters from Livingston, the town he once called home.  While Byron Scott has numerous NBA championship rings as a member of the Lakers. he has never earned a ring as head coach. Hopefully, Scott can be the next Livingston sports figure to win big.