After winning five championships together as a deadly player-coach tandem, it seems like Phil Jackson is hinting that he wants to reunite with Kobe Bryant once more. In a news conference in New York this past Friday, Jackson said, “I don’t think it’s his [Kobe’s] last year. Sounds like it may be his last year as a Laker.”
The Zen Master is notorious for picking his spots when to speak or not very carefully, including when he went to visit D’Angelo Russell at Ohio State and was fined after commenting on one of Russell’s games.
Phil Jackson and Kobe Bryant to Reunite in the Mecca?
Bryant’s hefty contract expires after this season, so it’s very likely that Phil hinted that the Knicks would be very accommodating to Bryant if he chose to play in the Mecca. Jackson’s bride-to-be, Jeanie Buss, is the current President of the Lakers which makes this situation very awkward for everyone involved if Bryant leaves the Lakers for the Knicks.
After a disappointing 17 win season in Jackson’s first year working for James Dolan, Jackson could just be exploring opportunities by saying these types of remarks. But a stint in New York could make sense for all parties involved. Bryant would still be in the national spotlight which would increase his brand awareness, and he would be reunited with the man who led him to achieve greatness five separate times.
For the Knicks, Bryant would become an instant factor and a playmaker in his later years. Of course, Carmelo Anthony, the current max-deal franchise player, would have to approve this move. It would be a disaster if Jackson signed Bryant without consulting Anthony, since the two players are considered ball-hogs. Jackson would want Bryant to run the triangle and help develop Kristaps Porzingis as the high post presence.
When Bryant gets hot, he could still require a double team which opens up the floor for everyone else. The Knicks underwent a complete overhaul of the roster this off0season, but they’re still a border-line playoff team. If the Knicks don’t start the season well and those crazy fans in the garden are booing loudly, expect Jackson to text Jeanie Buss on Kobe Bryant’s availability. Until then, let’s watch one of the generation’s greatest players try to add on to his legacy.
