Following Friday's game against the Golden State Warriors, Kobe Bryant was asked about the possibility of Phil Jackson returning to coach the Lakers and Bryant made it clear he's in favor of Jackson taking over.
Kobe Bryant in favor of a possible Phil Jackson return
The Lakers gauged Phil Jackson’s interest in returning on Friday and Kobe Bryant made it clear he would also be in favor of Jackson returning to coach the Lakers.
Stephen Dunn
Jackson last coached the Lakers during the 2010-11 season, a year which ended with a loss in the Western Conference Semifinals. Bryant, who played under Jackson in 11 of his 16 seasons prior to this season, said it has always eaten at him that he wasn’t 100 percent during Jackson’s final season with the Lakers.
"He's too great of a coach to have it go out that way. That's my personal sentiment," Bryant said, according to the Los Angeles Times. "I took it to heart because I couldn't give it everything I had because I physically couldn't. My knee was shot. That's always bothered me."
In addition to Jackson, Bryant said he would also be in favor of Mike D'Antoni. Bryant wasn't the only Laker to support the possibility of playing under Jackson. Dwight Howard said he thought it would be "great" to play under Jackson and he could learn a lot. When asked about a possible Jackson return, Pau Gasol said, "That's an option. I love Phil."
Lakers’ fans are in agreement with the players, chanting “We want Phil” on multiple occasions during Friday’s game against the Warriors.
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