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Phil Jackson Reportedly Interested in Lakers Drama Surrounding Russell Westbrook

SGKing

Phil Jackson at the New York Knicks Press conference to present Phil Jackson as team President in Madison Square Garden New York 18 03 2014 ****NO AGENTS----NORTH AND SOUTH AMERICA SALES ONLY----NO AGENTS----NORTH AND SOUTH AMERICA SALES ONLY****

Is Phil Jackson ready to get back to coaching?

Russell Westbrook hasn’t fit in very well with the Lakers this season, and that’s an understatement. According to veteran NBA insider Marc Stein, Westbrook’s prickly personality has been a problem, and not just when he seems to not want to fully engage with the media after games.

Via Marc Stein:

“Jousting with reporters in press conferences is apparently not the lone source of pushback these days from under-fire guard Russell Westbrook. There has been no shortage of defiance behind the scenes, I’m told, when coaches and teammates have tried to broach changes in role or approach with the former MVP. For all the obvious complexities involved in trying to move Westbrook when he’s owed a whopping $47 million next season at age 34, one league source described the idea of bringing him back next season as “impossible” based on current tension levels. The question then becomes: If the Lakers can’t construct a palatable trade, do they try to just buy Westbrook out? Or waive and stretch him?”

Now reports are Phil is keeping an eye on the drama unfolding. He’s been in contact with his former girlfriend Jeanie Buss.

“The dynamics surrounding the Russell Westbrook situation are known to have drawn his interest.”

If there’s one man who can figure out how to make things work in Los Angeles it’s Phil Jackson. That being said, Phil is probably not going to come out of retirement to coach, he’s probably too old at this point, and his health has always been an issue on any potential return to coaching.

Maybe the Zenmaster can hop on a call with Russ to set him straight…

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