BYRON SCOTT AGREES TO CONTRACT EXTENSION

May 28, 2008

The New Orleans Hornets announced today that Head Coach Byron Scott has agreed in principle on a contract extension. Per team policy, terms of the contract were not released.

“I am very happy to sign an extension to stay here in New Orleans with the Hornets,” Scott said. “We, as a team, are a piece of the community of New Orleans. We are really growing into something special and there is no other place I would rather be. I have great assistant coaches, wonderful players, an intelligent general manager and an owner willing to do what it takes to win. I am looking forward to next season.”

Scott, the 2007-08 NBA Coach of the Year, led the franchise to its first Southwest Division title and a franchise-best 56-win season. Scott guided the team to a 56-26 (.683) record, an 18-game improvement over last season (38-43, .463) and the second-best record in the highly-competitive Western Conference. The Hornets also broke a franchise record with 26 road wins, finishing at 26-15 on the road and winning 17 of their final 26 road games. The Hornets were 15-26 away from home a year ago.

“We are a very fortunate organization to have Coach Scott leading our team and he has done an outstanding job with us,” said Hornets Owner George Shinn. “Obviously, I wanted to get this contract done as soon as we could and we were able to accomplish that. I told Coach Scott when he became our head coach four years ago that I want him to retire as a Hornet and this is another step in that direction.”

Scott was named NBA Coach of the Month for January, after leading the Hornets to a league-best 12-2 record. At the All-Star break, the Hornets owned the highest winning percentage in the West, earning Scott the spot as head coach for the Western Conference All-Stars in New Orleans, his second appearance as an All-Star head coach (2002).

“We are all very happy that we were able to sign Byron to an extension, it was a fair deal on all sides,” General Manager Jeff Bower said. “Byron has done an excellent job as coach growing our players and we feel that we have the best coach for our players and team.”

Scott has compiled a 151-177 (.460) record in four seasons as head coach.