According to a report from ESPN Los Angeles' Arash Markazi, the winningest coach in NBA History, Phil Jackson, is leaning toward retirement. It would come after another masterful performance from Jackson this year, ending with his NBA-record 11th championship.
Phil Jackson Retiring? Coach Reportedly Tells Lakers He’s Leaning That Way
But it's certainly not a surprise, either. The Lakers have maintained all year long that to remain head coach, Jackson would have to take a paycut from his lucrative contract. And perhaps in response to those demands, Jackson had remained largely ambiguous about any plans for the future. Until today, that is.
According to Markazi, "Phil said he usually follows his gut and his gut tells him to retire. He's not ruling out coaching elsewhere, but says its not likely." Jackson also said that he's likely to reach an official decision as early as next week.
It would be a huge loss for the Lakers, and a huge moment for the NBA. You could debate whether there’s better tactical coaches throughout the league, but without a doubt, there’s none more iconic than Phil, and should he choose to move on, it’d be the end of an era for not just the Lakers, but the entire league.
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