Lakers’ Byron Scott: Carlos Boozer shouldn’t take benching personally

On Saturday, after not playing Carlos Boozer during Friday night’s game, Lakers Coach Byron Scott said he spoke with his power forward to let him know that his not playing wasn’t “personal.”

Scott said he reassured Boozer that he wanted to try a different lineup and was not punishing Boozer for missing practice Wednesday after the All-Star break was over. Scott said Boozer, who got fined for missing the practice, said his private plane had engine trouble and wasn’t able to get from Miami to Los Angeles in time for practice.

“It’s never personal with me,” Scott said. “I don’t play guys out of being ‘I’m mad’ or anything like that. Like I said before, I don’t hold no grudges when it comes to that. If you can help me win games, I’ll put you on the floor. I don’t have to like you at all. But that’s not the case with Carlos.”

Boozer will be a free agent when the season is over and will be looking to get a new contract with either the Lakers or another team.

Scott said Boozer just wanted to be sure he hadn’t fallen out of favor.

“I just told him it was something I was trying to experiment with that didn’t go the way I expected it to go and I wasn’t happy with it and it probably won’t happen again,” Scott said. “Carlos has been great and he has been a true professional.”

Twitter:@BA_Turner