Epic Dean
07-01-2010, 05:49 PM
The idea of his fourth three-peat must have been too much for Phil Jackson to pass up.
The Los Angeles Lakers coach told the team on Thursday that he will return for his 11th season on the bench.
"Count me in," Jackson said in a statement. "After a couple weeks of deliberation, it is time to get back to the challenge of putting together a team that can defend its title in the 2010-11 season. It'll be the last stand for me, and I hope a grand one."
Jackson had told the Lakers that he needed to address health concerns before committing to another season. A knee has been bothering him for some time.
Jackson, 64, is a member of the Hall of Fame who has led the Lakers and Chicago Bulls to 11 championships, the most of any coach. The Lakers have won the last two after winning three in a row from 2000-02. The Michael Jordan Bulls won titles from 1991-93 and 1996-98 with Jackson at the healm.
"We're extremely pleased that Phil has decided to return," Lakers general manager Mitch Kupchak said. "With this most recent championship, we've now won five titles in the 10 years he's been our head coach and have been to the Finals in seven of those 10 years, which is amazing. He's not only the best coach for this team, but quite simply the best coach in the history of the NBA."
Jackson's contract terms for next season were not immediately available, but one source close to the situation told ESPN.com's Marc Stein that Jackson knew and accepted them before he returned to his offseason home in Montana, making health the only variable that could have kept him from returning.
Multiple reports have stated that Jackson will be expected to take a pay cut this season.
Link (http://sports.espn.go.com/los-angeles/nba/news/story?id=5346690)
The Los Angeles Lakers coach told the team on Thursday that he will return for his 11th season on the bench.
"Count me in," Jackson said in a statement. "After a couple weeks of deliberation, it is time to get back to the challenge of putting together a team that can defend its title in the 2010-11 season. It'll be the last stand for me, and I hope a grand one."
Jackson had told the Lakers that he needed to address health concerns before committing to another season. A knee has been bothering him for some time.
Jackson, 64, is a member of the Hall of Fame who has led the Lakers and Chicago Bulls to 11 championships, the most of any coach. The Lakers have won the last two after winning three in a row from 2000-02. The Michael Jordan Bulls won titles from 1991-93 and 1996-98 with Jackson at the healm.
"We're extremely pleased that Phil has decided to return," Lakers general manager Mitch Kupchak said. "With this most recent championship, we've now won five titles in the 10 years he's been our head coach and have been to the Finals in seven of those 10 years, which is amazing. He's not only the best coach for this team, but quite simply the best coach in the history of the NBA."
Jackson's contract terms for next season were not immediately available, but one source close to the situation told ESPN.com's Marc Stein that Jackson knew and accepted them before he returned to his offseason home in Montana, making health the only variable that could have kept him from returning.
Multiple reports have stated that Jackson will be expected to take a pay cut this season.
Link (http://sports.espn.go.com/los-angeles/nba/news/story?id=5346690)