Lakers Sign Tony Bennett, Ex-Virginia Coach, as Draft Advisor

Tony Bennett Joins the Lakers as Advisor for the NBA Draft

The renowned coach Tony Bennett, with a distinguished career in college basketball, has been hired by the Los Angeles Lakers as an advisor for the upcoming NBA draft. Bennett, who previously led the University of Virginia from 2009 to 2024, will bring his vast experience in talent selection and development to the team led by Rob Pelinka, president of basketball operations and general manager of the Lakers.

As we refine and build our NBA draft and exploration processes, we couldn’t think of a better basketball mind than Tony Bennett to have as a resource.

Rob Pelinka

During his time in Virginia, Bennett led the Cavaliers to the top of college basketball, culminating in the national championship in 2019. His record at Virginia was 364-136. The coach is recognized for his ability to build winning cultures, focusing on players with great character, skills, and IQ. His contribution will be invaluable to the Lakers’ basketball leadership, scouts, and the draft department in general. Bennett was honored by the University of Virginia, which named the court in his honor. In addition, he was awarded Coach of the Year in 2007 and 2018 and led Virginia to six ACC regular season championships. Before his time in Virginia, Bennett coached Washington State from 2006 to 2009.

When Rob and I started talking, what caught my attention was the opportunity to help such a historic organization. The Lakers have a tradition that speaks for itself, so being connected to it and helping Rob and the Lakers in any way I can is exciting.

Tony Bennett

As a player, Bennett had a career in the NBA, playing for Charlotte from 1992 to 1995.