Phil Jackson, Like Kobe Bryant, Planning Exit From L.A. Lakers?September 09 07 Never one to side-step controversy, Phil Jackson recently discussed the state of the Lakers as he was being inducted into the basketball Hall of Fame:
On the club’s lack of off-season moves:
"We were promised by Jim Buss we’d have big changes. We’ve yet to see that. We’re still looking for that."
On Andrew Bynum ’s progress:"There’s incredible pressure for that kid to step up and produce this year. He hasn’t had the kind of success that generates the kind of press he’s had."
On Kobe Bryant’s relationship with the Lakers:
"I think actions are going to have to speak louder than words. It’s going to take some mending and other people in this organization have to be part of it."
My Quick Take: These quotes are from Bill Plaschke’s Friday article in the L.A. Times. Plaschke is a great reporter. Check out his work in the Times’ sports section.
Open the dictionary, look up the word dysfunctional, and a picture of the Lakers will surely appear. Jackson can have an opinion, but he must keep his opinion private and can’t publicly call-out a front office executive.
Forget that Buss is a terrible judge of talent. Forget that Jackson is right, the purple-and-gold haven’t improved during the off-season. Zen-master Phil is employed by the Lakers, not Kobe Bryant. He can’t undercut his bosses. He can’t humiliate Andrew Bynum; after all, it’s not the young center’s fault he wasn’t traded for Jason Kidd.
But Plaschke’s article raises a good point. Jackson, like Bryant, is thinking short-term. The Hall of Fame coach only has a year remaining on his contract with the Lakers and it sounds like he’s already half-way out the door.
What do you think of Jackson’s comments? Get at us in the comment box below with your thoughts.
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Posted by
wal
on 09.12.2007 | all the money in the world wont keep bobe in la in 2 years when his opt out contract can take affect which hell do becuase he wants a clean slate ,a fresh start and wmost important want that taste of champoinship ans that ring phil had a good run hands down one of the best coches of all time whats it 6 with bulls 3 with la i think only red has more correct me if im wrong . | Posted by
I Bleed L.A.
on 09.12.2007 | First of all, "You are not thinking NBA basketball if you trade the best player to ever put on a Laker uniform, KOBE! Lakers need just one BIG man with the Desire and Fire Kobe has inside to play hard, execute, and win! When Bynum has a 30 point game, Kobe will probably be watching it from his couch, RETIRED. Give Kobe/Phil what they’ve worked hard to earn.. it’s not too much to ask! P.S. Sorry Bynum! But what WE see, is what WE get.. . | Posted by
Stix
on 09.11.2007 | Phil should go head and leave.He’s a good coach and any organization would love to have him.... If he do leaves the Lakers he could go win win another ring somewhere elese,he all ready has nine of then.A couple more of them wont help!!!! . | Posted by
rb
on 09.11.2007 | Kobe has once again destroyed the Team,in LA. He has no morals or values. You are always better to get rid of the bad He is not a winner,only an athelete with super talent.He can not lead an nba team to the Champiobship like Mike and Shak could. Bynum might some day!Get what we can and move on. . | Posted by
b4hoops.blogspot.com
on 09.10.2007 | I kinda agree with Phil’s approach on this. Like you said, he has one year left on his current deal — so, worst case scenario, he quits at seasons end and finds a gig somewhere else or walks off into the sunset. But, I think Kobe’s non-media saavy outburst earlier this summer and Phil’s current very media saavy questioning of the Lakers front-office is a result of the lack of effectiveness of the behind-closed-door demands. At some point, if it ain’t working away from the media, you have to open the doors and bring it to the public forum — Kobe and Phil are simply putting a lot of pressure on the Lakers front office and doing it rightly and effectively. Which frankly, is very much deserved given the moves, or lack thereof, that the Buss family and Kup-cake have made over the last 3 seasons. . | Posted by
on 09.10.2007 | To no-name hater: Sandor’s blog is actually quite measured on the Lakers ... do your research before calling out my boy . | Posted by
Sandor-supporter
on 09.10.2007 | Ah there’s a thing called cap locks ... Actually, I think the author is taking a measured approach-if you read it before going on your tirade. Way to leave your name, too. That takes guts. Sandor agrees that Phil has aright to be pissed, but he can’t publicly trash the organization. There’s no excuse for that. As for Bryant being a scapegoat, Kobe is barely mentioned. And in past articles, Sandor barely mentions a negative word or thought on Bryant. Do some research pal before you weigh-in and lay off what ever you are taking ... And, one last thing, caps lock is usually on the left of the keyboard. It’s below the tab key and above the shift bar...thanks ... . | Posted by
on 09.10.2007 | YOUR BLOG SUCKS! PLASCHKE IS A GREAT REPORTER? HAHAHA! YOU GOTTA BE KIDDING. IF YOU WERE PROMISED THAT YOU’D BE PLAYING WITH A REAL CONTENDER BY RESIGNING DURING YOUR PRIME AND THEY RENEG ON THAT PROMISE, YOU’D BE PISSED TOO! UMM...HELLO YOU DUMBO! PHIL HAS A MIND OF HIS OWN. HE’S PISSED BECAUSE THEY PROMISED HIM THE SAME THING. THAT’S WHY HE RESIGNED! WOW, SOME PEOPLE LOVE TO MAKE KOBE A SCAPEGOAT. . | Posted by
moses
on 09.10.2007 | The lakers would never be the same without kobe but if he have to go it should be to the knicks. The knicks would make him into a god on the court. . | Posted by
spi
on 09.10.2007 | sell kobe to bulls... bring dung and g(j)orda(o)n to the LA , LA the western conf. champ within a couple years. . | Posted by
shizzle
on 09.9.2007 | Buss Jr is due to crack. I think he’s the problem, but even after that you have Kupchak’s ineptitude. Or maybe his hands were just tied by Buss. Either way, they have a year to improve the team significantly or Kobe opts out. simple as that. . | Posted by
on 09.9.2007 | Jackson and the lakers are tired and old . |
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Oly Sandor | Daily take on NBA Oly Sandor is an NBA analyst and sports journalist based out of Vancouver, Canada.After years of the free-lance game, Oly Sandor is bringing his unique brand of NBA analysis exclusively to (...) More |
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