Imagine a photograph so cleverly chaotic that even its subjects still laugh about it decades later! The surprise doesn’t always come with a buzzer, but sometimes all it takes is a palm tree. Legendary NBA photographer Andy Bernstein recently revealed the behind-the-scenes story of the iconic photo that led to Byron Scott say, “Find me, I will wait.”

But what’s the story behind the photo that turned the shy rookie into an inside joke in the Lakers’ changing room? On the recent episode of Byron Scott’s show, “Byron Scott’s Fast Break,” former Lakers team photographer Andy Bernstein joined his old pal to talk about the good old days. The two go way back, when Byron was just a rookie starting in the league, while Andy was also in the early stages of his career.

The conversation took a sharp turn when co-host Kid Jay teased, “We’re going to talk about Byron’s photo that he has beef about.” Bernstein laughed, “Oh boy, do I need to break that out!” The mood was set, it was serious and humorous – “I don’t remember it clearly,” said Byron Scott, to which Bernstein promised: “I’ll show you, and you’ll remember.” The two went on to speak about what was oneof the most talked about photos of the 90s.

The story goes back decades! Andy, smiling, revealed, “The setup was the Lakers’ annual team photo, standard stuff on the court,”. But the Lakers marketing guru Lon Rosen had a wild idea: “Let’s do a fun, conceptual photo to sell to Denny’s or Miller Lite!” Coach Pat Riley didn’t immediately agree to it, so Bernstein transformed the forum into a beach!

“We brought beach towels, chairs, palm trees…Big Game James (James Worthy) had a surfboard!” Bernstein recalled. But what about rookie Byron Scott? Andy and his team were confused, as he recalled, “We didn’t know what to do with him”. “I said, ‘Let’s have him peek out from behind a palm tree -he’s new to the league”

The photo was a riot! With everyone on the beach set, Byron was barely visible, tucked under Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s armpits. Bursting into laughter, Byron revealed he was going to ask the fans to “find me in this picture! I’ll wait – it’s gonna take you a while!”

The room was roaring with laughter as Andy said, “I’m amazed he’s still friends with me after this!” referring to Scott. The photo wasn’t just a snapshot, it was a moment that captured the Lakers’ playful spirit, as Lon’s vision turned a routine photoshoot into a marketing goldmine. Legend has it that fans are still trying to spot Byron Scott in the picture!

Now, why’s this photo such a gem? It’s more than just a funny picture –  it’s a time capsule of an era when the Lakers used to own the streets.

So, where is Byron Scott?

He’s right there, peeking from behind the palm tree. Scott’s placement wasn’t just a gag, it symbolized his under-the-radar journey to becoming a three-time NBA champ. The beach-set, with its quirky props, made the photo a fan favourite, as it effectively was a treasure hunt.

In the interview, Andy Bernstein took out the picture and showed it to the co-host, Kid Jay, even as Byron Scott wasted no time describing it. “That’d be me right there…under Kareem’s armpit! You can barely see me!” True to form, the image showed Scott half-hidden beside Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, near a palm tree as teammates like Jack Curran looked on.

Scott wasted no time mocking his former teammate Curran, claiming he was looking on as “like he’s at a firing squad.” Byron Scott provided further context, claiming that he was not only placed under Kareem, he was placed under Kareem Abdul Jabbar’s armpits!

Decades later, Andy and Byron’s bond is unbreakable. The shoot was more than just a job, it is a lifelong memory. The laughter on the show spoke for itself. Who knew a palm tree pose could spark such a legacy?