Phil Jackson had interest in returning to the Los Angeles Lakers, but that was it. No other team interests him. So let go of any hopes of luring him back, Washington Wizards or any other team soon to be seeking new leadership.
After a brief flirtation with a comeback after the Lakers fired Mike Brown, Jackson said to TMZSports.com that the chances are “slim and none, probably” that he would return to the profession he won 11 NBA championships as coach.
“I really wasn’t looking to coach again,” he said. “That one was happenstance, and it just came about.”
Jackson, 67, interviewed with the Lakers following Brown’s firing, but was eventually passed over in favor of Mike D’Antoni — a move that confounded many, including Jackson and D’Antoni.
Jackson had two stints with the Lakers, winning five championships with the team and 11 overall as a coach — six others with the Bulls. As a player, Jackson won two titles with the Knicks.
“Well, we never discussed any terms, so there was never anything that was unfair,” Jackson told TMZ. “It was just a midnight coup. It was kind of weird.”
While Jackson is trying to be diplomatic, he did call the Lakers’ handling of the situation, “slimy.” In a statement, though, Jackson was a bit more cordial.
“I was awakened at midnight on Sunday by a phone call from Mitch Kupchak. He told me that the Lakers had signed Mike D’Antoni to a 3-year agreement and that they felt he was the best coach for the team. The decision is of course theirs to make. I am gratified by the groundswell of support from the Laker Fans who endorsed my return and it is the principal reason why I considered the possibility.”
According to reports, which were disputed by other reports, Jackson was seeking unprecedented power over the team with the ability to veto roster moves as well as special travel considerations to help with his health issues — as well as a massive contract somewhere in the range of $10 million-$15 million.
