Sports Radio Interviews

Next To Kobe, Jeannie Buss May Be Most Valuable Person In Lakers Organization

It’s a pretty safe bet that without Jeannie Buss in the Lakers organization, Phil Jackson never would have returned for a second tour of duty with the Lakers.  It’s a well known fact that they’ve been dating for close to ten years now.  I have no doubt she was instrumental in smoothing over the relationship with Phil and Kobe after rumors came out that Kobe had Phil forced out of his coaching job.  Then Phil wrote a book called “The Last Season” in which he called Kobe “uncoachable”.

A reunion between Phil and Kobe seemed highly unlikely, but here we are five years later and Phil broke Red Auerbach’s record for most NBA Championships by a head coach with ten and Kobe won his ring without Shaq.  It’s such a heartwarming story I expect to see a TV movie on Lifetime focusing on the special relationship with Phil and Kobe with Jeannie at the center of it.

Now the question is, with Phil’s various ailments will he return next year.  Who better to ask than the aforementioned Jeannie Buss.  She joined the boys on ESPN Radio Los Angeles and gave her thoughts on her paramour’s return to the bench.

On if she expects Phil Jackson to return as the Lakers’ coach next year:

“Well, you know, he talks about that. He is under contract to come back next year, so if he did leave it would be to retire, he can’t go to another NBA team, so keep that in mind. It’s really just about his health. He had some issues this year with swelling in his legs, which they figured out what was wrong. Our medical staff was able to treat it, they completely solved that problem. It made him miss the last regular season of the game, of the season. So he’s feeling fine, he’s actually probably better now than he was at the start of the season, so I can’t see any reason, other than if he goes through his regular check-ups that they find something that’s concerning, but he feels fine and I expect him to be back next year.”

Listen to Jeannie Buss on ESPN Radio LA with Mason and Ireland

Tags: Jeannie Buss, Lakers win NBA Title, Phil Jackson, Will Phil Jackson return to coach next season?