The Lakers are making waves with the addition of Tony Bennett, the former University of Virginia head coach, as their new NBA draft advisor. This strategic move was announced by the team, highlighting Bennett's role in shaping the Lakers' draft and scouting processes.
Rob Pelinka, the Lakers' president of basketball operations, expressed his enthusiasm, stating, "We’re thrilled and honored to welcome Tony as an advisor. His ability to form a culture with high-character, high-skill, and high-IQ players is respected throughout basketball circles. Tony will be an incredible asset to our leadership, scouts, and draft department."
Bennett's basketball journey is impressive. After a brief NBA playing career with the Hornets in the early '90s, he transitioned into coaching. His path took him from New Zealand's North Harbour Kings to assistant roles at Wisconsin and Washington State, before becoming the head coach at Washington State and then Virginia.
During his 15-year tenure at Virginia, Bennett achieved a remarkable 364-136 record, leading the Cavaliers to a national championship in 2019. His roster boasted future NBA talents like De’Andre Hunter and Ty Jerome. Bennett's coaching prowess was recognized with the Naismith College Coach of the Year award in 2007 and 2018.
Pelinka remains at the helm of the Lakers' basketball operations, even as new controlling owner Mark Walter seeks to expand the front office, inspired by the successful model of his MLB team, the Los Angeles Dodgers. Bennett's appointment is just the beginning of a series of strategic additions to the Lakers' operations team.
Looking ahead, the Lakers hold a single pick in the 2026 draft, projected to be the 21st overall. With Bennett's expertise, the team is poised to make impactful decisions that could shape their future success.