Leave it to Phil Jackson to keep coming up with Los Angeles Lakers revelations.
A few days after saying that Shaquille O'Neal's laziness was the basis for the rift with Kobe Bryant, Jackson slipped in another blast about why he isn't coaching the Lakers, according to USA TODAY Sports.
After the Lakers fired Mike Brown five games into the 2012-13 season, Jim Buss, who was running the organization for his ailing father, Dr. Jerry Buss, and general manager Mitch Kupchak interviewed Jackson to gauge his interest about a third stint with the Lakers.
But is a dramatic last-minute change of heart, the Lakers hired Mike D'Antoni instead.
Jackson was asked whether he received confirmation as to who in the Lakers organization made the decision to go with D'Antoni.
"You know, it was something that has bounced from spot to spot," Jackson told USA TODAY Sports. "When I left (the interview), Jimmy was pretty happy about it and Mitch was still saying, 'We're going to keep interviewing people,' and I think the ultimate (decision) kind of rested with Dr. Buss and he made the decision in the hospital the day after.
"I haven't chosen to bite on that. I've just let that go. I'm real comfortable with it. I don't have any trouble."
A lot of Lakers fans, however, might have a harder time letting that fact go, if true.
At the time of D'Antoni's hire, the prevailing sentiment was the Jim Buss, and maybe Kupchak, were jealous of Jackson's success. With Jerry Buss ailing and not in a position to decide the Lakers future, it was presumed that Buss and Kupchak decided against giving Jackson more power within the organization by asking him to come back again.
It's interesting to note that later in the USA TODAY Sports interview, the subject turned to Dwight Howard, and Jackson referred to the Lakers fans as "our fans."
"And I think it takes a long time to get over the type of back injury he had, and I think the Lakers weren't patient," Jackson said. "I don't think our fans understood."
But when asked if any possibility remained about Jackson's return to the Lakers bench, he replied, "I don't think so.
"...And Mitch, obviously, has a relationship with Jimmy that has been going on since, I think, 2004 or so, when he started becoming really involved. So for the last 10 years, he and Mitch have been pretty much working together. Dr. Buss came in on things. We had a few issues. Kobe (Bryant) had an issue one year. We had an issue getting Pau (Gasol). Some of the major moves, Dr. Buss was still there. But the other stuff Jimmy and Mitch have been working on. They've got a relationship, so I don't see that happening."
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