Phil Jackson is a busy man despite not being head coach of the Los Angeles Lakers anymore and now the Hall of Fame coach will be getting into the television business, as he is set to produce a basketball drama show for Showtime.
According to Variety and Pro Basketball Talk, Jackson along with director Ron Shelton, fiancé Jeanie Buss and assistant coach Kurt Rambis are all involved in producing the show, which will follow a family that is running a pro team. Obviously all the parties involved have some experience in the situation, as Rambis worked with Jackson and he is engaged to Buss, who helps run the Lakers. Shelton is big in the sports film and TV world, as he has directed and worked on films like "Bull Durham", considered one of the best baseball films of all time.
The Variety report says that Street Reason Entertainment will help produce the series and they wanted Shelton involved since he has a great sensibility for sports films and entertainment. The trio should have plenty of input in the series, as Jackson and Buss have been together for many years and have seen how the team is run through the Buss family and the dynamic of having the coach as a producer should make for a compelling series.
From Variety: "Ron Shelton, the creative talent behind such noted sports movies as "Bull Durham," "Tin Cup" and "White Men Can't Jump," will write, direct and exec produce the project.
Jeanie Buss, the senior vice president of the Los Angeles Lakers and Linda Rambis will executive produce via production company Street Reason Entertainment."
