Phil Jackson Reportedly Wanted to Own a Piece of the Lakers Franchise

As Laker fans continue to digest the news that their beloved former coach Phil Jackson won’t be coming back, there are rumblings out of LA that the Zen Master wanted more than just to rule the sidelines. The LA Times reports that Phil – who was stunned that the job went to Mike D’Antoni — also was looking to become a minority owner of the franchise: “Turns out, not only did Jim Buss not have a deal in place with [Phil] Jackson when he fired [Mike] Brown — an inconceivable truth — but he also wasn’t prepared to make a deal. Buss apparently walked away from Jackson partially because the coach asked for an ownership piece of the team. Magic Johnson wins five championship rings and gets a piece of the Lakers, but Jackson’s five championship rings gets him the door? This couldn’t be because Jim Buss never really liked Jackson, could it?”