 After the Los Angeles Lakers were swept in their Playoff series against the Dallas Mavericks on Mother's Day (May 8), one of the questions everyone wondered was: is Coach Phil Jackson finally calling it a wrap?
It seems so, after what he said during the game's post-game press conference.
As he sat down to address media, Jackson exhaled and told reporters that he was actually relieved the season has come to an end. Although this may not be the most grand of exits, he doesn't regret his decision to attempt a run at a threepeat.
"I came back this last year with some trepidation," Jackson explained, after being asked if this would be his final game. "Kobe's knee was an issue and obviously our team was older. The thrill of trying to chase the threepeat is always an exciting thing. But, yes, I knew it was a big challenge for this team to threepeat. We had gone to the Finals and to go back twice and win it after losing it in '08 puts a lot of strain on a basketball club, from all angles. Personalities. Spiritually. Physically. Emotionally. Getting charged up for game after game and assault after assault when you go in to play teams. It was a challenge bigger than we could meet this year."
After his response, he was asked again by reporters for a definite answer on whether he'd retire.
"Was this your final game?" he was asked
"I haven't answered that, have I?" Jaskson responded with a grin.
After an unprecedented 11 championship rings in 20 seasons, Jackson said Sunday that he is finished with coaching, which he made very clear.
"And you're not going to force me to answer it," Jackson finally allowed. "But, yes, all my hopes and aspirations are is this is the final game that I'll coach. This has been a wonderful run. I go out with a sour note after being fined $35,000 this morning by the league (for criticizing referees on Saturday), so that's not fun, feeling like I've been chased down the freeway by them. As Richard Nixon said, 'You won't be able to kick this guy around any more.' "
Jackson has talked retirement before, only to return next season. However, it's a little different this time. Lakers GM, Mitch Kupchak, and the team's players also believe that.
"I think this is it," Kupchak told ESPNLosAngeles after the loss Sunday. "We'll sit down and talk, but I've gotten no indication that he won't retire.
"We just talked briefly and I thanked him for what he's done for the organization. It was a pleasure to work with him," he continued. "Everybody who is a coach in this league works endless hours. I'm not going to say he works harder than any other coach in this league. He certainly works as hard as any of them. But he's different. He's got a feel that I think a lot of coaches don't have."
For the team's star, Kobe Bryant, it's weird. He tells ESPN a future without Jackson isn't something he was ready to think about, at least not Sunday.
"Phil ... it's tough for me to put into words what he's done for me," Bryant said. "I grew up under him. So, the way I approach things, the way I think about things, not only in basketball but in life in general, a lot of it comes from him because I've been around him so much. So, it's a little weird for me to think about what next year's going to look like."
Lakers point guard Derek Fisher shared his sentiments, as well, admitting in the days to come, it's gonna be a tough pill to swallow.
"As a group, the next 12, 24, 36 hours go by and we're able to reflect on the fact that we may have played for the best coach in professional basketball for the last time, I'm sure it will be tough to swallow for everybody," Fisher said.
Jackson retires as one of the greatest coaches of all-time, not only in basketball, but in sports period. His exit is definitely the end of an era.
In his absense, and this tough loss, Jackson said that the Lakers will always come back ... even without him.
"We all know they always come back and get themselves back in the race," Jackson said. "The Lakers are going to survive."
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