Phil Jackson Engagement Leading to Retirement?

(Photograph: Reuters/Lucy Nicholson)
Phil Jackson recently announced that he has no intention of coaching in the NBA again.

By Christine Thomasos , Christian Post Reporter

January 10, 2013|8:42 am

Phil Jackson, a 11-time championship winning NBA coach, is not planning to return to the league amid rumors that he will sign on with the Brooklyn Nets.

While Jackson's last stint as a Los Angeles Lakers head coach led the team to five championships between 1999 and 2011, some rumors swirled about his return to the league after taking some time off. Since Nets head coach Avery Johnson was let go last month, a number of fans and media outlets questioned if Jackson would be a good fit for the team.

However, Jackson recently spoke up about his decision to coach in the future in a SheridanHoops.com report.

"I have no intention of ever coaching again," Jackson said.

P.J. Carlesimo, interim Nets coach who is off to a 6-1 start after replacing Johnson last month, said he was not reassured by Jackson's comments meaning that he would have a secure position on the team. In an ESPN report, Carlesimo said Jackson's comments were not reassuring.

"It's not. That's more fragile than the confidence of the players," the interim Nets coach said. "I don't believe Phil, anyhow. I've known Phil too long."

However, Jackson's agent Todd Musburger seemed to echo his clients sentiments when speaking to NBA.com's David Aldridge last month.

"Phil has no interest in the Nets job at this time," Musburger reportedly said.

Although Jackson's name has been the topic of conversation in Nets reports, the executive vice president of his former job at the Lakers organization recently announced that he would remain a part of their family with a recent engagement. Jeanie Buss, Lakers executive VP, recently tweeted a picture of a diamond engagement ring with the caption,"Twitter family -- Phil finally gave me that ring I wanted ! :-) "

Buss opened up further about her relationship with the former Lakers head coach.

"I'm beyond happy," Buss told ESPNLosAngeles.com. "I really didn't want it to be news, but I knew people who followed me on Twitter cared about it and I've been wearing the ring since Christmas, so I figured I should let people know."