{"id":628660,"date":"2026-02-27T17:54:57","date_gmt":"2026-02-27T17:54:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/628660\/"},"modified":"2026-02-27T17:54:57","modified_gmt":"2026-02-27T17:54:57","slug":"tony-bennett-joining-lakers-in-nba-draft-adviser-role","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/628660\/","title":{"rendered":"Tony Bennett joining Lakers in NBA draft adviser role\u00a0"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Lakers<\/a>\u2019 front office changes continue.<\/p>\n

Former Virginia men\u2019s basketball coach Tony Bennett was hired as an NBA draft adviser to president of basketball operations\/general manager Rob Pelinka, the franchise announced Wednesday.<\/p>\n

\u201cAs we refine and build out our NBA draft and scouting processes, we could think of no better basketball mind than Tony Bennett to have as a resource,\u201d Pelinka said in a statement. \u201cTony\u2019s track record of forming culture, with high-character, high-skill and high-IQ players is revered and respected across all basketball circles. Tony will be an incredible asset to our basketball leadership, to our scouts and to our draft department as a whole.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"FormerHead coach Tony Bennett of the Virginia Cavaliers celebrates after defeating the Purdue Boilermakers 80-75 in overtime of the 2019 NCAA Men\u2019s Basketball Tournament South Regional to advance to the Final Four at KFC YUM! Center on March 30, 2019 in Louisville, Kentucky. Getty Images<\/p>\n

Bennett is a two-time national Coach of the Year (2007, \u201818) and was Virginia\u2019s head coach from 2009-24 before retiring unexpectedly.<\/p>\n

He led the Cavaliers to the 2019 NCAA championship.<\/p>\n

Bennett also coached Washington State (2006-09) after being an assistant for the Cougars from 2003-2006.<\/p>\n

After playing basketball professionally, which included playing for the Hornets (1992-1995), Bennett started his coaching career with New Zealand\u2019s North Harbour Vikings in 1998 before becoming an assistant for Wisconsin in 1999.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Download The California Post App, follow us on social, and subscribe to our newsletters <\/p>\n

California Post News: Facebook<\/a>, Instagram<\/a>, TikTok<\/a>, X<\/a>, YouTube<\/a>, WhatsApp<\/a>, LinkedIn<\/a>
California Post Sports Facebook<\/a>, Instagram<\/a>, TikTok<\/a>, YouTube<\/a>, X<\/a>
California Post Opinion<\/a>
California Post Newsletters: Sign up here!<\/a>
California Post App: Download here!<\/a>
Home delivery: Sign up here!<\/a>
<\/a>Page Six Hollywood: Sign up here!<\/a><\/p>\n

Thirteen players who played for Bennett during his collegiate coaching career were selected in the NBA draft.<\/p>\n

\"RobRob Pelinka, President of Basketball Operations and General Manager of the Los Angeles Lakers, looks on during the 2025 NBA Draft Combine at Wintrust Arena on May 13, 2025 in Chicago, Illinois. Getty Images<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen Rob and I began talking, what stood out to me was the chance to help out such a storied organization,\u201d Bennett said in a statement. \u201cThe Lakers carry a tradition that speaks for itself, so to be connected to it and assist Rob and the Lakers in any way I can is exciting.\u201d<\/p>\n

Bennett\u2019s hiring comes after several front office changes since Mark Walter, who is also the Dodgers\u2019 owner, bought majority ownership of the Lakers<\/a> in the fall.<\/p>\n

The Lakers fired longtime front office executives Joey and Jesse Buss in November, along with a significant chunk of their scouting department.<\/p>\n

Dodgers executives Farhan Zaidi and Andrew Friedman joined the Lakers in advisory roles in November. Fellow Dodgers executive Lon Rosen<\/a> was hired as Lakers president of business operations earlier this month.<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\t