Phil Jackson Still Not Certain He'll Retire
EL SEGUNDO, Calif. (AP) Coach Phil Jackson returned from his annual summer vacation in Montana with a close-cropped white beard and a renewed determination to win one last championship in his final season with the Los Angeles Lakers.
Except it might not be Jackson's last stand after all.
The 11-time NBA champion coach acknowledged Friday he's still uncertain whether he'll retire after the upcoming season, as he repeatedly vowed earlier this summer when he agreed to return with a pay cut for a shot at an unprecedented fourth threepeat.
"I can't tell," Jackson said with a grin at the Lakers' training complex. "Every year, I like to go into a season (thinking) this is it, putting everything into it."
While weighing in on everything from the Miami superteam to his choice for a successor on the Lakers' bench, Jackson radiated confidence in his defending champions and their restocked roster. The Lakers report for an early training camp to prepare for a European tour next month.
But Jackson also acknowledged center Andrew Bynum probably won't be ready for the start of the regular season after arthroscopic surgery on his right knee. The coach isn't angry with Bynum for postponing surgery to travel to the World Cup and Europe, saying he encourages his players to broaden their horizons beyond basketball.
Most of the Lakers' news was much less discouraging. Jackson believes Kobe Bryant's surgically repaired right knee is healthy enough to allow the NBA finals MVP to play a bit in London and Barcelona.
And although the Lakers never play under the radar, Jackson knows much of the basketball world's focus will be directed to South Beach this fall. The Miami Heat will visit Staples Center on Christmas, and Jackson is eager to see what happens with their grand experiment in free agency.
"I think it was quite a surprise to all of us in the NBA that this is what happened," Jackson said of LeBron James' decision to join Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh. "(But) you look back at what Wade did prior to free agency, and it's no surprise. It's all fair game. Players can go out and recruit, and coaches and GMs can't. These players obviously wanted to collude together and do this. It's going to make for a very exciting season."
Jackson smiled after saying "collude" - a word that sets antennae buzzing in Miami, although the Lakers coach didn't overtly allege any improprieties.
He's looking forward to watching the Heat's competition in the Eastern Conference against Boston, Orlando and other contenders.
"I can see that people will favor (Miami)," Jackson said. "I still think basketball is won with defense. The Celtics play defense, and they know how to do it."
So do the Lakers, although their defense could be a bit softer if Bynum is slow returning to the middle. Their starting center had his knee drained twice during the playoff run and again after it ended, but didn't get around to having surgery until July 28.
"I know he's getting battered a little bit, and we could have had the operation a little bit earlier," Jackson said. "He could have come in a little bit earlier, but the end result is what's he going to be like in May and June. That's the important part."
The Lakers already acknowledged Bynum won't practice early in training camp. The oft-injured 23-year-old 7-footer averaged 8.6 points and 6.9 rebounds while starting all 23 playoff games last season.
"I don't see how Andrew is going to be ready, and I really haven't anticipated Andrew being ready to go at the beginning of the season," Jackson said.
Jackson's future is murkier, but that's the way he likes it at this point in his unmatched coaching career. He will use the same strategy he employed for the past several years, taking a few weeks after the season to formulate a plan while relaxing in Montana.
If he elects not to return, he hopes Brian Shaw or another assistant on his staff receives a promotion from owner Jerry Buss. Jackson agreed to an unspecified pay cut from his $12 million salary last season in deference to the Lakers' financial situation - their payroll will be well over $90 million, the league's highest, resulting in a hefty luxury tax bill.
"No one likes to lose salary, especially after you win a championship, but it's part of the game," Jackson said. "I understand the franchise needs to get solvent. ... I think I'll be all right to make it through the year."
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