HoopsHype.com Rumors

Jeanie Buss: Just confirmed my participation at the @SloanSportsConference March 2-3, 2012 in BOSTON. What are my chances of convincing Phil to join me? Twitter

Los Angeles Lakers, Phil Jackson, Jeanie Buss 

Phil Jackson's next title will be on the cover of his new book. Jackson, the Hall of Famer who won 11 NBA championships as coach of the Chicago Bulls and Los Angeles Lakers, is writing his memoir called "Eleven Rings," Penguin Press said Tuesday. The book is tentatively scheduled to be out next year. The 66-year-old Jackson is a 1,155-game winner whose career .704 winning percentage is the best in NBA history. ESPN.com

Los Angeles Lakers, Phil Jackson 

Jackson is said to be semi-enjoying a fitful retirement. With few if any hobbies, Jackson has been described as restless by those who have spoken with him. Just as important, the Zen Master feels healthy and rejuvenated after shaking off the effects of back and hip ailments that made road trips a nightmare for him over his past few seasons with the Lakers. Returning this season, with this maniacal travel schedule, would've been senseless for Jackson. But with a year off, Jackson could settle right back into his routine next season with a normal schedule. And what better way to come back than to chase a 12th championship with the team he first became a champion with as a player? "The feeling is, all Dolan would have to do is ask, and Phil would say yes," a person connected to the former Lakers coach told me this week. CBSSports.com

New York Knicks, Phil Jackson, Coaching, Mike D'Antoni 

But the most pertinent words out of Jackson's mouth in that interview? The ones that give credence to league sources who describe Jackson as bored in retirement and still having the itch? These were the words: "I don't miss it. I really don't miss it," Jackson said. "But I think I have to stick my finger into an electric socket every once in a while just to get a little jolt out of life to keep it going because that's what gave me the joys, the jollies of life." The largest electric socket in the world awaits between 31st and 33rd Streets, and between Seventh and Eighth Avenues. If Jackson goes, the only question is who'd be providing the jolt. CBSSports.com

New York Knicks, Phil Jackson, Coaching, Mike D'Antoni 

During his visit to Russia to attend the student league All-Star game, 7-time NBA champion Robert Horry was interviewed by Sports.ru. Here’s the most interesting part I think (Please keep in mind that this is English-to-Russian-to-English translation) Was it possible to avoid the Kobe and Shaq split? I think Phil Jackson started that feud. It happened many times that after team practice he would say, “Kobe said this about Shaq, and Shaq said that about Kobe… We couldn’t believe how could that happen, because just the day before we saw them together, jumping on one another. Phil liked it when there was conflict of some sort. I always tell people; if you look at those championships, you’ll see who were the closest players on the team. Normally those are the guys who are the first to hug each other. And when we were winning, it was always Shaq and Kobe who hugged. I think this will answer your question. Later it was blown out of proportion by the media and both players started doing something that didn’t make sense. Rush'n Hoops

Los Angeles Lakers, Kobe Bryant, Phil Jackson, Shaquille O'Neal, Robert Horry 

But all that will matter only if Jackson decides he does want to sit on the bench again, despite his age and his aches and pains. He has always wanted to make the break from coaching and, after two tries, has never been happier than he now is in retirement No. 3. Here, the sky is blue, the temperature is in the 60s and the beach is five blocks from the 10-table bistro where he ate lunch Thursday. “I have no desire to coach,” he said. “You never say never, right? I mean, there’s always something that might change my mind — but I just don’t see it. New York Times

Phil Jackson, Coaching 

“Without a doubt, New York is special,” he continued in a vein a little more encouraging for Knicks fans. “Why wouldn’t it be? When I was there, it was one of the greatest times to be in New York. I mean, the Mets, Jets and Knicks won championships all in one year.” New York Times

Phil Jackson, Coaching 

But all that will matter only if Jackson decides he does want to sit on the bench again, despite his age and his aches and pains. He has always wanted to make the break from coaching and, after two tries, has never been happier than he now is in retirement No. 3. Here, the sky is blue, the temperature is in the 60s and the beach is five blocks from the 10-table bistro where he ate lunch Thursday. “I have no desire to coach,” he said. “You never say never, right? I mean, there’s always something that might change my mind — but I just don’t see it. “Without a doubt, New York is special,” he continued in a vein a little more encouraging for agitated Knicks fans. “Why wouldn’t it be? When I was there, it was one of the greatest times to be in New York. I mean, the Mets, Jets and Knicks won championships all in one year.” New York Times

New York Knicks, Phil Jackson, Coaching 

Improbably, Jackson also became Coach Red Holzman’s longest-serving disciple, but that was then and this is another millennium and another Knicks organization, one nowhere near as good as the one he knew. Still, Jackson pays attention. “Now I enjoy listening to Knick broadcasts because of Walt,” Jackson said, referring to Walt Frazier. “I get a kick out of that. He was one of my teammates. He used to study the dictionary. “Bill Bradley is back there. There are a lot of friends I have that are New Yorkers, so there’s a real sense that I enjoy seeing people in the time I’m there.” New York Times

New York Knicks, Phil Jackson, Coaching 

“I went into this second venture with the Lakers — there were two things,” Jackson said on Thursday as he ruminated about what might well be the last chapter of his coaching career, and might not. “Kobe had had a real falling out, and I felt together we could repair that relationship. He had fallen out with me, but it had been hard. He was looked at as the guy who got rid of Shaq. New York Times

Los Angeles Lakers, New York Knicks, Phil Jackson, Coaching 

“I thought, ‘I can come back for three years, just kind of get them over the hump,’ ” Jackson said. “I thought it was a job that was going to probably sully this great record I had, but I was willing to do it,” he added. “And then one thing led to another. We got Kobe back seated onto the team and excited about playing basketball again, and everything started flowing. “So I stayed longer than I thought, but I was more than ready to retire when we won the second championship against Boston” in 2010. New York Times

Los Angeles Lakers, New York Knicks, Phil Jackson, Coaching 

He added: “I don’t miss it. I really don’t miss it. But I think I have to stick my finger into an electric socket every once in a while just to get a little jolt out of life to keep it going because that’s what gave me the joys, the jollies of life.” Jackson does meditate, but a sign on his desk reads: “There are no Zen masters. There is only Zen.” He loves sanctuaries and appears to have one right now. New York Times

New York Knicks, Phil Jackson, Coaching 

In Kobe Bryant’s first meeting with Mike Brown, he cautioned the Lakers’ newly hired coach “not to pull back” to coach him “like everyone else, otherwise the players will turn on you,” Bryant told me during dinner in L.A. just before Christmas. Kobe said he heard Brown didn’t yell at LeBron James and acknowledged Phil Jackson didn’t yell at him. “Phil coached everyone different because he’s Phil. His rings gave him license to do that. Pat [Riley] and Pop [Gregg Popovich] also have earned that right — nobody else.” New York Post

Los Angeles Lakers, Miami Heat, San Antonio Spurs, Kobe Bryant, Phil Jackson, Coaching, Pat Riley, Mike Brown, Gregg Popovich 

So Phil, I finally had to ask after we had gone through the usual familiars about health and family, do you want to coach in the NBA again? “No,” said Phil Jackson with his practiced, slightly bemused look. “I don’t,” added Jackson, though there rarely is a finality to the declarations of the never say never dreamer. “But that doesn’t mean I won’t. I don’t think I’ll coach again. I’d like to see if there’s another side of basketball, perhaps. If I’m back in full (health) activity at a level I want to be active at, I may not even want to go back to coaching. “I may want to pick up where I wanted to go, maybe ride a motorcycle around the world, do something that’s much different,” Jackson said possibly musing about his own bucket list. “I don’t think I’ll ever run marathons. I don’t think I’ll ever be able to do that again. But have the kind of activity I’d like to do. Fly fish and still be able to do some of the things I’d like to do.” NBA.com

Phil Jackson, Coaching 

Jackson always had a good sense for team building and was instrumental in the Bulls acquisition of Bill Cartwright over Michael Jordan’s objections, and later with the Lakers the decision to keep Lamar Odom that contributed to another two titles. “GMs have to lie too much,” Jackson said with a laugh. “It’s one of the hardest things to do is to be a prevaricator, or whatever you want to call it, to equivocate all the time. It’s almost like being in political office. I’d prefer some behind the scenes type situation where you can actually have a difference in the character of the people coming to work both in coaching aspect and players. That make sense in that type of management.” NBA.com

Phil Jackson, Coaching 

“I thought I was only going to coach three years,” Jackson said. “The Busses asked me to come back and hopefully get us in the playoffs and get going again. One thing led to another and I ended up coaching longer my second stint than the first with the Bulls. “I can say I’d like to (come back) to go on to win a dozen championships, but that is ridiculous to almost even say that (aloud),” Jackson said with sort of a wince. “Everything I’ve wanted to accomplish has been accomplished as far as that goes. But life isn’t about the amount of money you make or the kind of accolades you have but about really fulfilling your life and having it fulfilled. There are a lot of things that go into that. Your family, how you live your life and how you make the best of it. Not just your professional or career life. I think that’s the overwhelming drive in my life.” NBA.com

Phil Jackson, Coaching 

Jackson said he hasn’t watched much basketball this season, though he’s pleased the labor situation finally was resolved. He said he watched part of the Lakers/Bulls Christmas Day game and has tried to stay away from the team to not interfere as the Lakers go from the system type approach Jackson believed in a more traditional NBA game individual game. “I think they’re learning the system, coming together,” Jackson said. “They’ve got new pieces. Speed isn’t what they want it to be. This is a team that’s been used to playing whatever level of half court and taking care of opponents with execution. With their new kind of way they’re going to play I think they’re going to have some speed and some easier baskets and easier ability to make some points. I think they’re a team in transition, so to speak, and we’ll see some changes. I don’t think they’re done changing the personnel.” NBA.com

Los Angeles Lakers, Trade, Phil Jackson 

The triangle offense did plenty for the Lakers, helping them win five championships under Phil Jackson. It featured a two-guard front instead of the more traditional point guard and shooting guard delineation, which meant Blake didn't necessarily bring the ball up court. He likes Brown's offense, which is more akin to typical pro sets. "I get to push the ball more and feel the ball in my hands," he said. "In your whole life, you're bringing the ball up and then you don't [last season] … it's nice to get back to that same feeling." Los Angeles Times

Los Angeles Lakers, Phil Jackson, Steve Blake 

Retired coach Phil Jackson has declined a chance to see the Knicks face the Lakers tonight. His girlfriend, Jeanie Buss, a Lakers executive, had invited Jackson to sit with her, but he felt his presence would be misconstrued. Jackson has been mentioned as a potential successor to coach Mike D’Antoni, who has one year left on his contract. New York Post

Los Angeles Lakers, New York Knicks, Phil Jackson, Coaching, Jeanie Buss 

Bryant gave former Lakers coach Phil Jackson “leeway to make decisions” on his injuries, and said Brown has the same power. But given Bryant’s legendary stubbornness, it will be a challenge for the new coach to decide when to rest his star guard. “It’s tough to monitor him because he doesn’t complain about anything,” Brown said. “I’ve been around him a short amount of time and he hasn’t complained about one thing. I’m trying to watch him to make sure he doesn’t overdo it because I know he won’t watch himself. Mentally and physically, he is about as tough as they come.” Yahoo! Sports

Los Angeles Lakers, Kobe Bryant, Phil Jackson, Injuries