Los Angeles Lakers coach Phil Jackson said Wednesday he's "leaning toward retiring," but won't make a final decision until next week.
Los Angeles Lakers coach Phil Jackson said Wednesday he's "leaning toward retiring," but won't make a final decision until next week.
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Jackson, an 11-time NBA champion said Wednesday he'll get the results of another round of medical tests before deciding whether to bring down the curtain on his coaching career.
"I'm leaning toward retiring, but I haven't made up my mind," he said. "Some of it's about health. Some of it is just the way I feel right now."
But tempting him to come back is the chance at a three-peat, after guiding the Lakers to a second straight championship this season.
The Lakers beat Boston in seven games for the franchise's 16th championship last week.
"It's hard not to think about coming back ... but it's what I feel like right now," he said.
"My intention was that if we won the second time, to go for a three-peat would be natural," Jackson said. "It would be tough not to go for another championship in that three-peat realm, which is ridiculous. That's one of those things that's sitting out there that's still a fly in the ointment."
If he does decide to return, Jackson would be going for a fourth career three-peat.
Jackson won three straight titles with Michael Jordan's Chicago Bulls from 1991-93 and again from 1996-98.
After taking a year off, Jackson led the Lakers to three straight titles from 2000-02, guiding Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O'Neal to the prize.
Jackson has the most playoff game wins of any coach in NBA history, with 225 postseason victories and two more titles than Boston's Red Auerbach.
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