Phil Jackson: Is This Lakers Season Really His Last Stand?
Phil Jackson is in what he is calling his "last stand" as the head coach of the Los Angeles Lakers. He plans on making a run at a possible fourth three-peat, putting all his rings in a basket and riding off into the sunset.
Can we really believe that at this point?
Jackson, in what I can only assume is a contest with Michael Jordan to see who can un-retire the most times, has already retired twice as a head coach.
After the 1998 season with the Bulls, Jackson vowed never to coach again, he came back a year later to coach the Lakers. Following his first NBA Finals loss ever in 2004 to the Pistons he re-retired three days later. 362 days later, he was the Lakers head coach again.
He nearly retired this offseason, with reports as late as the end of June that said Jackson was leaning toward retirement and he was "very serious" about not coaching another team next season. A few days later, he decided to tough it out for one more season, and then be done with it.
Phil has repeatedly declared that this will be it, but now even he isn't sure. Jackson has said as recently as three days ago that he "can't tell" if this will be his last season or not.
It is certainly easy to see the Zen Master staying on as the sideline patroller for the Lakers as long as they are a championship-contending team. And it seems as long as they have the tandem of Phil Jackson and Kobe Bryant they will be.
Phil has dealt with all of the problems he has to deal with this season before.
He has taken the wind out of up-and-coming teams like it is nobody's business. With the Lakers alone he has taken the wind out of the sails of the excellent Sacramento Kings and Portland Trail Blazers teams of the early 2000s.
Jackson has taken down his share of star-laden teams as well. Everyone from Magic Johnson to Charles Barkley, Patrick Ewing, Karl Malone, John Stockton, Jason Kidd, Allen Iverson, Dwight Howard, Paul Pierce, and Kevin Garnett knows how it feels to lose to a team with Jackson at the helm.
It is impossible to say that there is a team of players that Phil Jackson can't beat, considering the rash of talent that he has run over in his illustrious career.
If Jackson wins yet another title this year, which is still quite a good possibility, then he has every reason to come back for another year.
In NBA history only one coach has retired (and stayed retired) after a championship season; Red Auerbach retired after his last championship in 1966.
It is not impossible to see Jackson coming back for another year next season, especially if his Lakers take home the gold again.
The ability of Jackson to retire and then un-retire in true Brett Favreian style has been a mainstay of his career. He has gone where he is wanted, and it seems that the Lakers want him as long as he wants the Lakers.
For the time being, whether Jackson is the Lakers head coach of just this season or multiple seasons is completely up to him.
