The Los Angeles Lakers have received permission from the San Antonio Spurs to interview assistant Ettore Messina for L.A.'s head coaching vacancy, a source told USA Today's Sam Amick.
Messina is among a group of rumored replacements for the fired Byron Scott - including Luke Walton, Derek Fisher, Jeff Van Gundy, and UConn coach Kevin Ollie.
Related: Lakers GM Kupchak hopes his coaching search isn't lengthy
Messina and Walton remain high on the Lakers' list, reports Amick. The 56-year-old Italian served as a consultant for the organization during the 2011-12 season, later joining Gregg Popovich's Spurs staff as an assistant coach in 2014. Prior to the NBA, Messina was an enormously successful coach in Europe, winning four Euroleague championships.