LOS ANGELES — Phil Jackson is in the Lakers’ fold till 2010. What about Kobe Bryant?
Jackson implied Bryant is back in a shared cockpit. Jackson said about Bryant and the Lakers’ potential: “He sees it, too, and he sees the challenge ahead. Our relationship is at a very good level.”
Here’s what Todd Musburger, Jackson’s close friend and agent, said: “Kobe and Phil are in a very good place together. You can see that in their public comments, but behind the scenes there’s a very effective relationship where they are shared goals and they are on the same page. If they weren’t getting along so well, would Phil have made that decision (to extend his contract)? I don’t know.
“But for the time that Phil and Kobe are working together, I don’t think you’re ever going to have to print that there was some blow-up or whatever. And you have to credit both of them for that.”
It is also good for both of them to work together and push the owner to acquire helpful talents that could make the team more steady in crunch time.