Legendary former Virginia HC has found a role with Lakers 

Tony Bennett may not be calling the shots anymore as a head coach on the sidelines, but he still brings a wealth of knowledge to the table.

Undoubtedly, that's why the Los Angeles Lakers have decided to bring Bennett on as an advisor as they prepare for the 2026 NBA Draft, which will be held sometime in late June.

Bennett's official title will be NBA Draft advisor, and he'll report directly to the president of basketball operations and general manager, Rob Pelinka. It sounds like he's going to stick around for more than just the 2026 draft as well.

"We’re thrilled and honored to welcome Tony as an advisor to the Lakers basketball operations department," Pelinka said in a statement. "As 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. Tony’s 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. We are truly excited."

Tony Bennett brings a strong track record to Lakers

Bennett is a three-time National Coach of the Year at the college level. He started his coaching career at Washington State but is known for his stint with the University of Virginia from 2009 to 2024. He went 364-136 at UVA and led the Cavaliers to the 2019 NCAA championship.

Virginia won the ACC regular season six times under his watch, and the Cavs won the ACC Tournament twice with Bennett as head coach. It's clear he's excited for the chance to work with the Lakers.

"When Rob and I began talking, what stood out to me was the chance to help out such a storied organization," Bennett said. "The 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."