When Phil Jackson talks — or Tweets – people listen.
Whether people actually believe him or not is a completely different story, particularly when the former head coach of the Los Angeles Lakers and Chicago Bulls and arguably the greatest basketball coach of all-time confesses that his coaching days are over.
How many times have we heard this song?
Jackson said as much at a gathering just outside of LA to help promote his new book – “Eleven Rings: The Soul of Success” – and discussed in length his thoughts on not returning to the sidelines, the Lakers’ woes, why Brian Shaw cannot get a coaching job and where Jackson himself goes from here after winning….well…eleven rings.
"Sometimes I feel I can still get out there and do it but the reality is I'm kidding myself," said Jackson in a story by the Los Angeles Times.
"When I was done I knew I was done — physically it was over…I have no intensions of coaching.”
More and more these days, it is more likely that Jackson’s name is attached to more executive and front office roles than head coaching gigs. He has served as an advisor to the Detroit Pistons in their recent coaching search (which went to Maurice Cheeks instead of Jackson disciple, Brian Shaw) and if Seattle is fortunate enough to bring back the Sonics, Chris Hansen would like to have Jackson be a part of the front office family.
In the meantime, Jackson is simply on the road promoting his memoir and fielding questions along the way about the Lakers direction since his departure and scratching his head about Shaw’s lack of head coaching employment.
Jackson on the Lakers:
"They're a mess, we know that because of their financial disorder right now, that's the thing they have to get straight right away."
Jackson on Shaw:
"I think that Brian might have an opportunity but I just want it to be the right one for him. The last conversation I had, I told him to make sure he doesn't end up in a no-win situation like Charlotte."
Zing. And Zing.
That will surely get people to listen to Phil Jackson.
