"He remembered those days when we used to beat them all the time" – Nets coach continued to taunt Karl Malone after a scuffle in 2001

Regardless of whether he was a player or a coach, Byron Scott would never back down from anyone. Serving as the head coach for the New Jersey Nets in 2001, the Arizona State product made it a point to defend his players when necessary.

Such was the case when Scott found himself in the middle of a skirmish between forward Kenyon Martin and John Crotty of the Utah Jazz. Things were getting heated between the two players, and the Utah native was trying to intervene.

But with emotions running high in that game, it reached a point where Scott got into a shoving match with Jazz superstar Karl Malone. The Nets coach told Malone he had no heart, and the two would continue to squabble in separate post-game interviews.

Jabs continued after the game

As far as Scott is concerned, what happens on the court stays on the court. He clarified that he was not the type to hold grudges. However, that did not stop him from taking a shot at Malone.

"I guess he didn't want me on the court. He remembered those days when we used to beat them all the time, I guess," Scott said via the New York Times .

Malone pointed out that Byron had no business on the court. Further, he jawed back at Scott, stressing that he only won NBA titles because he of Earvin Magic Johnson.

"I'm probably sure if I was going to ride some other guy's coattails, I'll probably have me a couple of rings and stuff like that," Karl quipped.

As far as that game was concerned, the Nets won by the slimmest of margins in overtime, 90-89, in Salt Lake City. Scott also drew praise from Martin after standing up for him in that matchup.

"To know that he's behind his players, that means a lot to us, to know that he won't let anyone do anything to harm us," K-Mart stated.

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Finals appearance

The Nets would go as far as the 2002 NBA Finals that season, where they would face Scott's former team, the Los Angeles Lakers. The Purple and Gold won via sweep over New Jersey as Byron and company had no answer for Shaquille O'Neal in that series.

"Too much Shaquille O'Neal. He's a monster. That's all I can say about him. I don't know what to do against him," Scott said back then.

Regardless, Scott had two memorable seasons for the Nets after leading them to two consecutive NBA Finals appearances (2001 and 2002). However, reports of an alleged rift with Jason Kidd surfaced in the 2002-03 season and placed him under pressure.

Scott would be fired in the 2003-04 season, and management was unhappy about the team's run after that year's All-Star break. He would go on to coach other teams, such as the New Orleans Hornets, Cleveland Cavaliers, and the Lakers. Unfortunately, he wasn't able to replicate the same success he had with the Nets with those teams.

Related: "Karl is a lot blacker than people think" - When Karl Malone's teammate refuted that he acts like a white guy