Phil Jackson Will Return For Final Season As Lakers Head Coach

Jackson is the all-time Lakers franchise leader with 553 wins and is tied for the franchise lead with five championships

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Phil Jackson Will Return To Lakers For Final Season

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Phil Jackson Will Return To Lakers For Final Season

After wavering this offseason on whether to return to the Los Angeles Lakers for another season citing lingering health issues, Phil Jackson has decided he’d return for a final season at the helm of the reigning world champions according to the team website.

"Count me in," Jackson said in the press release. "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 has won five titles as head coach of the Lakers to up his total to eleven total NBA championships, the most of any coach in NBA history.

"We’re extremely pleased that Phil has decided to return," said Lakers General Manager Mitch Kupchak. "With this most recent championship, we’ve now won five titles in the ten years he’s been our head coach and have been to the Finals in seven of those ten 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."

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Jul 01 2:02p by Scott Schroeder - 0 comments

Original Story

Phil Jackson To Decide Future By Friday

Phil Jackson will inform the Lakers by Friday of his decision whether or not to return as coach. Per Dave McMenamin of ESPN Los Angeles:

Jackson informed Lakers spokesman John Black via e-mail late Tuesday that he intended to stick to his plan to inform the team of his decision by Friday.

Jackson spoke Wednesday in Whitefish, Montana, after delivering the keynote address at the Western Governors Association's 2010 conference. Per Matt Baldwin of the Whitefish Pilot:

Health concerns are holding Jackson back from returning to the Lakers, he said at the Whitefish press conference. He said he'd rather not put the team in a situation similar to what the Denver Nuggets and their coach George Karl went through this season. Karl missed a chunk of time while undergoing throat cancer treatments, and Denver was bounced in the first round of the playoffs.

Jackson has knee and hip problems, and previous heart concerns.

With Brian Shaw removing himself from consideration from the Cavaliers head coaching job Wednesday, he remains a candidate to replace Jackson should Jackson decide to retire.

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10:43a by Eric Stephen - 0 comments