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Jackson: No decision on return to NBA
Phil Jackson expects to decide in "another day or two" whether he will return to coaching the Los Angeles Lakers or some other NBA team next season.
"There's been some talking going on, but nothing has been determined," he said from El Segundo on ABC's pregame NBA Finals show. "We're kind of narrowing it down now and I know these teams have to have an answer."
Spurs Humble Pistons 84-69 in Game 1 Billups Shines, but Can't Get Pistons Going Tyson weighs in at 233 pounds for McBride fight The Lakers want Jackson back, the Los Angeles Times reported on its Web site Thursday night. Lakers assistant general manager Jim Buss told Jackson earlier this week that the team wants him to return, the newspaper reported. Buss said he was speaking not only for himself but for his father, Lakers owner Jerry Buss, and general manager Mitch Kupchak. Jackson had a self-imposed mid-June deadline for reaching a decision about his coaching future. He took this season off after Lakers owner Jerry Buss didn't offer him a new contract last year. "This is the biggest pregnant pause in history, waiting for me to make a decision about this," he said, adding it could come "in another day or two." Jackson, who will turn 60 before the start of next season, has had health issues in the past. He told ABC that he's undergone four series of tests to make sure a possible return wouldn't be interrupted. Jackson's successor, Rudy Tomjanovich, left the Lakers in February because of health issues and was replaced by interim coach Frank Hamblen. Asked what would keep him from returning to the Lakers, Jackson said, "The biggest thing with that would be situations that don't work well, roster situations that are capable of change, personnel situations that are capable of change." Jackson and Kobe Bryant had a well-documented up-and-down relationship during their five years together, and Jackson outlined the difficulties in a book he wrote that came out last October. Jackson has nine championship rings as a head coach, six in Chicago and three in Los Angeles. He's tied with former Boston coach Red Auerbach for most NBA titles. The Lakers had a 34-48 record this season and missed the playoffs for the first time in 11 years. The interview was arranged by Jackson's agent Todd Musburger, whose brother
Brent is an ABC sportscaster.
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