The front office for the Los Angeles Lakers is approaching a crucial time. Jim Buss has said that he will step down from his role if the Lakers aren’t a contender in the coming season, and some believe general manager Mitch Kupchak could be in danger as well.
There have been some rumblings that former Lakers coach and current New York Knicks President Phil Jackson could make a return to the franchise as his contract with the Knicks runs out soon, and he is engaged to Lakers President Jeanie Buss.
In an appearance on the Beadle & Shelburne radio show, Buss was asked about the possibility of Jackson returning and said that there are no plans for such a thing to happen:
Is Phil Jackson ever coming back to LA? His fiancé Jeanie Buss says "There are no plans for Phil to come back here." https://t.co/XrCbm0zbL3
— Ramona Shelburne (@ramonashelburne) May 30, 2016
Many have speculated about Jackson potentially returning to the franchise that he led to five NBA Championships. Some have said that he badly wants out of New York, but even if that were to be the case, it won’t be happening soon.
Jim Buss and Mitch Kupchak will be working hard to get the Lakers back into contention. While Buss has said that he would step down, and Jeanie has said that she would hold him to that, no one is quite sure if he will indeed leave the Lakers after next year should the Lakers fail to meet standards.
If Jim Buss is indeed gone after next season, the rumors about Jackson returning to Los Angeles will likely heat up even more.