When as a coach you have won ten NBA championships, the rules are somewhat different. The Los Angeles Times reports that one possibility Phil Jackson may look at if he comes back to coach the team in 2009-10 is to not take every road trip, and coach from home, while assistant Kurt Rambis is on the bench. The Lakers certainly are a veteran team, and have two player-coaches on the floor with them(Derek Fisher, Kobe Bryant). However, this move, if done, could serve the Lakers organization good both short term and long. Jackson would be able to work, without going through the vigorous strain that traveling on the road puts on your body, and he could be more fresh towards the end of the season. It also would give assistant coach Kurt Rambis some valuable experience, and let him audition to be the successor of Jackson when Phil finally decides to retire.
There are very few coaches in the league that could pull this one off, perhaps Greg Popovich of the Spurs being the other exception. The trust needed that your team can deal with the ups and downs of stretches of the season without you physically being there is uncharted ground, however if any team, or coach, can make it work, it’s Phil and these Lakers.
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