NBA Rumors: Phil Jackson Would Make the New York Knicks Contenders

After spending 11 seasons as the Los Angeles Lakers coach, Phil Jackson finally announced his retirement from the coaching game after a career that started in 1989 and resulted in 11 championships with the Chicago Bulls and Los Angeles Lakers.

It turns out that Jackson may not be finished, either, as word is coming in that "The Zen Master" may be making his return, with the New York Knicks at the top of the list.

His former star pupil in Shaquille O'Neal reportedly stated that, "He may come back" and then went on to say how Jackson made him the player that he is today.

Jackson has made a career out of success. Before he even began his coaching career with the Chicago Bulls in 1989, Jackson had already won two championships as a player on the 1970 and 1973 New York Knicks.

Following a playing career that ended in 1980, Jackson would then take his talents to the sideline, where he would begin coaching Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippen and a Chicago Bulls team that had championship dreams.

In 1991, Jackson would lead the Bulls to their first championship in franchise history before going on to win the next two for the team's first three-peat of the 1990s. He'd then lead the team to two quality seasons in Jordan's absence before leading the Bulls to their second three-peat of the '90s with a win over Seattle and consecutive wins over Utah.

He'd take a year off before taking the position with the Lakers, where he would lead an O'Neal and Kobe Bryant-led team to a three-peat with championships from 2000 to 2002.

Jackson would depart for the year that the Lakers finished below .500, but would return and would then help bring Pau Gasol in to assist Bryant. Jackson and the Lakers duo would win two more championships with wins over Boston and Orlando.

Jackson coaching the New York Knicks would be one of the greatest things to happen to the team since drafting Patrick Ewing.

Currently, the Knicks possess the talent to be a great team with Carmelo Anthony, Amare Stoudemire and Chauncey Billups leading the way, but they don't possess the defensive discipline or the ability to share the ball on offense to become in serious contention with the likes of Boston, Chicago and Miami.

The 13-time champion could possibly create a triangle offense with these three players, as he might attempt to find a way for each player to co-exist on defense while also forcing the issue of the two star players giving a larger effort on the defensive end.

Jackson has prided himself on teams with stingy defenses and efficient offenses, and he has the tools to work with if he does join the Knicks.

Current coach Mike D'Antoni is a quality coach, but his philosophy on both sides of the ball is skewed and won't work if the team wants to seriously contend for a title.

He ran the same type of game with the Phoenix Suns, and it always ended up in defeat to a team that had the better defense. Jackson joining the Knicks gives the team a clear leader to look up to and a voice that they could listen to that preaches efficiency and strong defense.