Phil Jackson is reportedly a top target of the Brooklyn Nets, but the Zen Master may have other plans.
The Nets fired head coach Avery Johnson this week, and sources close to the team told ESPN that Phil Jackson is a top target to replace him. The only problem is that Phil doesn’t seem to be interested in the job.
This is the second time in just the past few weeks that Phil Jackson has been a candidate for a top NBA opening. When the Lakers fired head coach Mike Brown after a 1-4 start, the team made a big push to get him to return to the sidelines.
It took some cajoling for the Los Angeles Lakers to come to terms with Phil Jackson, who had some sticking points about how much he would travel with the team and how much control he would have. It was reported that the Lakers left it up to Jackson to make a decision but then the team suddenly — and unexpectedly — named Mike D’Antoni as head coach, reportedly leaving Jackson stunned.
Jackson’s longtime representative, Todd Musburger, said on Thursday that Phil has no interest in the Nets job, Sports Illustrated reported. But there could be more to it, sources close to Jackson say.
The terms that prevented Jackson from returning to the Lakers may not be an issue with the Nets, which has billionaire owner Mikhail Prokhorov and his deep pockets. Phil Jackson’s flirtation with the Lakers also reportedly got him interested in coaching again.
