Phil Jackson has been hired by the Detroit Pistons as a temporary advisor to team President Joe Dumars. Jackson will be tasked with helping Dumars, and team owner Tom Gores in finding the next head coach of the Pistons.
“Phil Jackson is a friend and one of the best minds in the business,” Gores said. “We are thrilled to have him as an adviser as we make some very important decisions for this franchise. Joe and I discussed this, and he and I are in full agreement that this is a great opportunity.”
“Tom and I discussed using a consultant as part of our decision-making process in our search for a head coach, and we feel that Phil Jackson is a great resource to use,” Dumars said. “I look forward to talking with Phil next week.”
The Pistons are seeking a new head coach to replace Lawrence Frank, who was fired at the end of the NBA season. Some rumored names in the mix include former Portland coach Nate MacMillan, Indiana assistant Brian Shaw and Houston assistant Kelvin Sampson amongst others.
The Pistons were 29-53 this season, 11th place in the NBA’s Eastern conference and 9 games behind Milwaukee for the final playoff spot in the East.
Jackson, 67, has 13 NBA Championships, 2 as a player with the New York Knicks, 6 as a coach with the Chicago Bulls and 6 as coach of the Los Angeles Lakers. He retired from coaching after the Lakers were swept in the 2011 playoffs by the eventual NBA Champion Dallas Mavericks. He is widely regarded throughout management, media, and fan circles as one of the best minds in basketball and nicknamed the “Zen-Master”. Jackson is reportedly beloved by former players Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant.
It has been widely rumored that new MLSE President Tim Lieweke, a former AIG/Lakers executive, was interested in hiring Jackson as Team President for the Toronto Raptors. This move, with its very “short-term” nature does little to put those rumors to rest.
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