It is no doubt that Phil Jackson would offer any NBA team a lot of knowledge with experience to back it up. The former head coach has been in high demand lately as the Hall of Famer has been toying with the idea of jumping back into the NBA in some form. Jackson has been waiting for the right opportunity to get involved, but has yet to find it. After being pursued as a head coach and possible general manager roles, Jackson has turned everything down. Now, the Los Angeles Lakers confirm Jackson is back with the team as a consultant.
The Lakers have a very big and important offseason looming over their heads. With Dwight Howard a pending free agent and several other marquee contracts expiring within another season or two, Los Angeles needs all hands on deck to help lead the team into another championship direction. Lakers' executive Jeanie Buss confirmed the news to the Daily News Los Angeles.
"My message to Lakers fans is Phil is a part of the organization because of me. He's part of my life and part of my family. He's always in Laker world, no matter if he has an official position or not. I think we're in good hands with our front office. Jim and Mitch know Phil is a phone call away. He's always available. He would always do anything to help, support or listen," Buss said.
Many Lakers' fans were hoping that Jackson would return to the Lakers as the head coach of the team after Mike Brown was fired five games into the 2012-13 season. Then job ended up going to Mike D' Antoni and Jackson remained outside. Despite not having a real role with the team until now, Jackson has continued to remain vocal about the team's future moves involving Dwight Howard and Steve Nash.
"You have to play in to Dwight Howard. You have to get back and reestablish him as the center that he potentially was going to be," said Jackson. "This year ... he had four or five less touches in the post. Most of the things he got in there were on the move."
General manager Kupchak confirmed the team has been in constant communication with Jackson over recent weeks. He would only say that Jackson is helping with "unspecified issues" concerning the Lakers, the franchise knows that the head coach is fit to make player decisions. While Jackson still has no interest in returning to coaching, the consulting role will scratch the itch for now.