National Basketball Association

Buss: It's cool if Jackson heads to NYC

Published Jun. 1, 2010 1:00 a.m. ET

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Former Knicks president Isiah Thomas swears if it were not for Phil Jackson's Hollywood romance with Lakers vice president Jeanie Buss, Jackson would have accepted the Knicks' job offer in 2005 and changed the course of franchise history, the New York Post reported Tuesday.

The Lakers coach will be a coaching free agent this summer and Buss wrote in an e-mail to the Post this weekend that she would not stand in Jackson's way if he desired to move East.

The Bulls, Nets and Cavaliers have coaching openings and there is speculation free agent LeBron James would love to play for the Zen Master as he seeks his first championship.

Knicks president Donnie Walsh has a coach in place whom King James likes in Mike D'Antoni, but Jackson always has been intrigued about the chance to coach on Broadway.

"I don't know how things will work out," Buss wrote. "I am hoping the Lakers win and everything stays status quo, but the one thing I do know is that I am not going to stand in Phil's way if he wants to go to another team."

Jackson is seeking to add to his record 10 NBA coaching championships as the Lakers take on the Celtics in the NBA Finals, which start Thursday in Los Angeles.

The odds are Jackson either retires with his record ring collection because of health concerns or he returns to the Lakers. But Jackson has left the door open for a new job and Buss, daughter of Lakers owner Jerry Buss, seemed to concur it is possible.

"I don't control him — if I did I would have a ring on my finger, but I am not going to threaten to break up with him if he takes another job," Jeanie Buss added.

"Our relationship is solid no matter where he works. There are plenty examples of wives that don't move to the city their spouse is coaching. I hear (Celtics coach) Doc Rivers's family is still in Orlando. So that will not make a difference."