Phil Jackson is returning to the Los Angeles Lakers following a reconciliation with the team that cut him loose last year after three NBA championships in five seasons.
The Lakers rehired Jackson on Tuesday, after he was let go by team owner Jerry Buss last June.
"This is something I never thought could possibly happen," Jackson said. "It's a pleasure to come back."
Jackson, who turns 60 in September, has had health issues in the past and underwent an angioplasty two years ago. He told an American television station before the opening game of the NBA Finals that he underwent a series of tests to make sure he was healthy.
Jackson agreed to a three-year contract. Terms were not announced, but it's believed he'll be earning between US$7 million and US$10 million per year, which would make him the highest-paid NBA coach ever.
Jackson's dismissal a year ago set in motion a makeover of massive proportions that proved to be disastrous.
Dominant big man Shaquille O'Neal demanded a trade, and superstar Kobe Bryant opted out of his contract to become a free agent the same day Jackson's five-year run as coach ended.
The futures of O'Neal and Bryant were decided the following month, with O'Neal being traded to Miami and Bryant staying with the Lakers.
Rudy Tomjanovich succeeded Jackson -- signing a five-year, US$30-million contract -- but lasted barely half a season, citing health reasons when he suddenly resigned Feb. 2.
Jackson's name was mentioned as a possible replacement almost immediately despite his having written a book detailing the 2003-2004 season in which he called Bryant uncoachable and made other disparaging remarks about the franchise.
"I think it's a matter of trust, a matter of rebuilding the trust that we had," Jackson said of his relationship with Bryant. "And yes, I have talked to Kobe; he actually called me this morning to congratulate me on the job. And I felt confident that he's confident that we can go forward."
Bryant's reaction to a possible return by Jackson seemed lukewarm at best during the past several months. But Bryant released a more positive statement through his agent, Rob Pelinka, shortly after the hiring was announced.
"When the Lakers began the search for a new head coach, I put my complete trust in Dr. Buss and [general manager] Mitch Kupchak to select the person they thought was best for the Lakers' organization," Bryant said in the statement. "In Phil Jackson, they chose a proven winner. That is something I support."
Shortly after Tomjanovich's resignation, Bryant said he would "roll with it" if Jackson returned. Two days after the season ended, Bryant said he didn't care who was hired as coach, adding he trusted the track record of Buss and Kupchak.
"Whoever they bring in here, I'm going to be ready," Bryant said. "I'm just open to whoever they feel like is going to get the job done."
Jerry Buss said in early May he believed Jackson and Bryant could coexist.
"Oh, definitely. No question," Buss said. "These people want to win."
With injuries playing a major role, the Lakers lost 19 of their last 21 games under interim coach Frank Hamblen to finish 34-48 and out of the playoffs for just the second time since 1976.
Jackson has coached nine NBA championship teams -- six with the Chicago Bulls and in his first three years with the Lakers.
The Philadelphia 76ers, fueled by 36 points from Tyrese Maxey and a triple-double from Joel Embiid, on Thursday beat the Houston Rockets 128-122 in an NBA overtime thriller. Cameroonian big man Embiid scored 32 points, grabbed 15 rebounds and handed out 10 assists, posting the ninth triple-double of his career to help the Sixers end the Rockets’ three-game winning streak. Rockets star Kevin Durant scored 36 points and Amen Thompson added 17, but Thompson was scoreless in the fourth quarter. Even so, the Rockets led by nine midway through the final frame, Maxey tying it at 115-115 with 40.1 seconds left. Durant missed a
MARRED FINAL: As most of Senegalese players walked off the pitch after a controversial decision, some supporters threw objects and attempted to get onto the pitch Senegal on Sunday won the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) as Pape Gueye’s extra-time winner sunk hosts Morocco 1-0 after a chaotic final that saw the eventual champions storm off the pitch late in the game. Brahim Diaz could have won the trophy for Morocco with a controversial spot-kick in the 24th minute of added time at the end of normal time as ugly scenes broke out in the stands. However, Senegal goalkeeper Edouard Mendy easily saved the weak attempted “Panenka” chip by the Real Madrid winger, who was clearly distracted by the long delay that followed the penalty award.
Qatar’s Nasser al-Attiyah on Saturday secured his sixth Dakar Rally car title in Saudi Arabia with Luciano Benavides scraping home by two seconds to claim the motorbike title. “We’ve worked very hard since last year. I might not be showing much emotion yet, but it’s there, deep down. We are so happy to win,” al-Attiyah said at the finish. Al-Attiyah, at the wheel of a Dacia, only had to avoid a final day slip-up to top the podium after bringing his career tally of stage wins to 50 on Friday. The 55-year-old, who took clay pigeon shooting bronze at the
Tobias Harris on Monday scored 25 points as the Detroit Pistons held off the Boston Celtics to score a 104-103 victory in their top-of-the-table Eastern Conference showdown. Harris was one of four Detroit players to finish in double figures, with Jalen Duren adding 18 points and point guard Cade Cunningham scoring 16 points with 14 assists. The win sees Detroit extend their lead at the top of the Eastern Conference to 31-10, 5.5 games ahead of second-placed Boston, who fell to 26-16 with the defeat. Jaylen Brown led the Celtics scoring with 32 points and almost snatched victory in the
RSS