Thursday, June 24th, 2010 at 9:00 am  |  10 responses

Phil Jackson: ‘I’m Leaning Towards Retiring’

Citing health, Phil told the media yesterday pretty much the same thing he’s been saying all year long, that he’s seriously considering retirement. The final decision will be made by the end of next week. Lakers.com captured the quotes: “Nearly a week after Phil Jackson won his record 11th NBA coaching championship, he revealed that Game 7 against Boston may have been his last as coach of the Lakers. ‘I’m leaning towards retiring but I haven’t made up my mind yet,’ he said. (On reasons to retire): ‘Some of it is about health. That’s just the way I’m feeling right now. It’s just something I’m going to sit with.’ (On the team being set up to win again): ‘This team is in a good place to (win again). If I’m not here, someone else is going to come in and do the job.’ Jackson said part of the decision is about what he wants to do and how he wants to live the remaining years of his life, and some of that has to do with the physical toll an NBA season takes on his body. (On if he’d coach anywhere else): ‘I’m not going to rule that out … I can’t say I’d never coach again.’ (On what he’d do if not coaching): ‘I don’t know. Write a book, go on a grand lecture tour, those are things people tell me I should think about doing. Of course it’s something I’d consider. But I think I have some things to lend to this game without doing the extensive travel and things I have to do to coach … I’ll wait and see what those opportunities would be.’ (On if it’s harder to leave a team in place to win again): ‘I think it’s actually easier to leave (a team that’s in tact). I’d be happy if they could go on and win without me. I think they have enough leadership on the floor and in the coaching staff.”’

  • Add a Comment
  • Share
  • RSS

Tags: ,

  • James the Balla Posted: Jun.24 at 9:20 am
    fack

  • James Posted: Jun.24 at 9:22 am
    As long as #24 is around Lakers will be fine but they will never find anyone better than the Zen Master though..

  • JoeMaMa Posted: Jun.24 at 10:32 am
    It was just reported that Kobe volunteered to fix Phil’s health problems, whether they be setting a cast, finding knee replacements, or even sucking the kidney stones out of his body. That’s dedication.

  • BallerBorn22 Posted: Jun.24 at 10:50 am
    Phil dont leave yet!How bout one more title to repeat the three-peat from 00-02!!

  • Negetivekreep Posted: Jun.24 at 11:08 am
    Phils had the greatest run in history, he’s got nothing left to prove, he’s 65 yrs old I think, gotta hot girlfriend. Yeah he’s gone.

  • Jay Cutler Posted: Jun.24 at 12:13 pm
    @JoeMaMa Kobe also volunteered to find the old man a hotel room in CO to think things over.

  • LD Posted: Jun.24 at 1:45 pm
    A book would be great. I can only imagine the response if Kobe wins a title without Jackson. Some would say Jordan never did that. Some would say that Phil wasn’t that great of a coach and anyone can with with certain players.

  • kenNY Posted: Jun.24 at 2:07 pm
    ONE MORE RING!!ONE MORE RING!!ONE MORE RING!!ONE MORE RING!!

  • Yesse Posted: Jun.24 at 3:18 pm
    Phil will be missed. The greatest coach of all time.

  • Lakers Nation | News From Around the League- June 24, 2010 Posted: Jun.24 at 3:37 pm
    [...] Phil Jackson is a man who helped the Lakers win multiple titles, and he is vital to the teams’ success.  However, the latest update does not sound promising. [Slam Magazine] [...]

Comments




The comments section is a place to further discuss the topics in this post. Commenters who seek to accomplish any of the following may be banned: - Personally attack other commenters. - Make derogatory comments regarding race, ethnicity, language, gender, sexual orientation or religion. - Troll, or comment with the intention of creating problems. Trolling includes, but isn't limited to, baiting people to flame at you, encouraging people to leave the site, spamming and using alternate IDs.