Phil Jackson Returning to the Lakers? Jim Buss Open To Bringing Him Back To Organization

Los Angles Lakers owner Jim Buss is now declaring he wouldn’t mind if Phil Jackson officially rejoined the organization.

Buss, the son of longtime team owner Dr. Jerry Buss, hasn’t always seemed eye to eye with Jackson. Jackson is the owner of 11 NBA championship rings during his time as coach of the Lakers and Bulls. But now that he is again available and perhaps interested in a possible NBA return, Buss wants his true feelings known.

"We can call him at any time," he recently told reporters, according to Real GM. "Mitch (Kupchak (team GM) has sat down with him several times, especially with the Dwight (Howard) situation. I'd be more than happy to have him on a consultant basis. I don't think we're paying him and I don't know if he has an official title. I have no idea if Jeanie wants to sit down and discuss that. But I have no issues with him coming back or having a role."

The longtime boyfriend of team co-owner Jeanie Buss, Jackson has long had a behind the scenes choice with the team, and has long publicly been in favor of having him return to the team.

“He wants to be supportive of me and the organization,” she recently told the media. “He has no contractual obligation. He would listen to anything where he might be able to help. If we asked him to fill on the broadcast because someone was out I'm sure he'd do it. Just because everyone puts him as a coach doesn't mean that's the only thing he's capable of doing."