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Jackson announces return to Lakers bench

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07/03/2009 - Los Angeles, CA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Los Angeles Lakers head coach Phil Jackson, fresh off a record 10th NBA Championship as a coach, announced on Friday he will return to the bench next year for a 10th season in LA and 19th as an NBA head coach.

There was some speculation that Jackson would either decide to retire or coach an abbrevaited schedule based on health concerns. Jackson discussed those scenarios late last month in an ESPN radio interview but later came to a decision along with general manager Mitch Kupchak to be all in or step away.

"After consulting with Lakers team internist Dr. John Moe, I feel confident that I can gainfully pursue an NBA season with another long playoff postseason. All things point to go!," Jackson said through a team release on Friday.

Jackson, who turns 64 in September, had cited health concerns as the sole reason behind any decision that would have had the Hall of Fame coach unable to fulfill the final year of his current contract. He agreed on a two-year extension in November, 2007 but since has felt the rigors of the road following a pair of hip replacement surgeries. The "Zen Master" specifically has addressed continued discomfort in his lower legs and cited longtime assistant Tex Winter's stroke last year as another reason to give pause to what will be a 19th year of coaching.

For Jackson, his 10th championship surpassed the legendary Red Auerbach for the most in history. Coaching his 300th career playoff game, Jackson also passed Bill Russell (11) for most titles won by a player/coach as LA finished off Orlando in Game 5 of the Finals last month. It was his fourth championship in Los Angeles, having previously guided Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls to six titles in the 1990s.

The announcement comes less than 24 hours after free agent forward Ron Artest reached a verbal agreement to join the Lakers next season. Artest announced on ESPN's SportsCenter in Los Angeles late Thursday that he is leaving the Rockets for LA and would play for the mid-level exception. The Los Angeles Times has reported the pact is for three years at close to $18 million.

No deal can be officially announced until July 8, per league rules.

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