Jeanie Buss: Phil Jackson Free to Coach Anywhere

Phil’s longtime girlfriend (an executive with the Lakers) tells the NY Post that Jackson can make a career decision after this season, and not expect any trouble on the homefront: “I don’t know how things will work out,’ Buss wrote. ‘I am hoping the Lakers win and everything stays status quo, but the one thing I do know is that I am not going to stand in Phil’s way if he wants to go to another team.’ Jackson is seeking to add to his record 10 NBA coaching championships as the Lakers take on the Celtics in the NBA Finals, which start Thursday in Los Angeles. The odds are Jackson either retires with his record ring collection because of health concerns or he returns to the Lakers. But Jackson has left the door open for a new job and Jeanie Buss, daughter of Lakers owner Jerry Buss, seemed to concur it is possible. ‘I don’t control him — if I did I would have a ring on my finger, but I am not going to threaten to break up with him if he takes another job,’ Jeanie Buss added. ‘Our relationship is solid no matter where he works. There are plenty examples of wives that don’t move to the city their spouse is coaching. I hear [Celtics coach] Doc Rivers’s family is still in Orlando. So that will not make a difference.”‘