After the Lakers were reportedly close to bringing back Phil Jackson earlier this season before hiring Mike D’Antoni, it seems that the 11-time champion coach is ready to get back into the business once again.
—–Check out the Lakers Nation store to get your LN gear and show off your Lakers pride!——
According to Ramona Shelburne and Marc Stein of ESPN Los Angeles, Jackson is “itching” to get back into the mix.
After nearly two seasons in retirement, Phil Jackson has become increasingly interested in working in the NBA next season, according to sources familiar with his thinking.
That doesn’t necessarily mean a return to coaching, as Jackson is known to be intrigued by the concept of moving into management for the first time in his career.
There’s a possibility that Jackson could return to the league as a front office executive and not necessarily a coach, as he was rumored to do with whichever franchise was headed to Seattle.
For those hoping Jackson returns to the Lakers, a lot of it will depend on the current team’s feelings towards Mike D’Antoni, who is still in his first season of a three-year, $12 million contract. If the team decides D’Antoni isn’t going to command the respect of their current players, they might look to make yet another move. Otherwise, don’t expect the team to pay D’Antoni to simply go away like they did with Mike Brown.
Jackson hasn’t coached since his Lakers were swept by the Mavericks in the Western Conference Semi-Finals back in 2011, but it wouldn’t be a surprise to see him back with an NBA franchise in some capacity in the future.
__________________________________________________________________________________________
In case you missed it, be sure to check out what Mitch Kupchak had to say about the Lakers amnestying Kobe Bryant!
Don’t forget to click here to subscribe to our Lakers Nation YouTube Channel!
