Former Lakers Coach Phil Jackson Releases Statement

The fallout from the Mike D'Antoni/Phil Jackson head coach hiring has left fans and analysts all flustered.

But Phil Jackson, the Los Angeles Lakers 11-time championship winning coach, doesn't seem to be as frustrated as other sports fans by Jim Buss's decision to hire the former Phoenix Suns head coach. After the Lake Show fired Mike Brown on Friday, everyone with half a basketball IQ thought that the next head coach would be the two-time former head coach, Phil Jackson.

With reports surfacing about some of the Zen Master's demands, everything from his travel restrictions, stake of the team, and even his say in personnel was scrutinized. To clear up matters, Jackson issued a statement regarding the Los Angeles Lakers coaching situation, which you can see for yourself below:

Saturday morning, Jim Buss, called to ask if he could come and visit. I did not solicit or ask for the opportunity, but I welcomed both he and Mitch Kupchak into my home to discuss the possibility of my return to the Lakers as the head coach. We talked for over an hour and a half. No contractual terms were discussed and we concluded with a hand shake and an understanding that I would have until Monday (today) to come back to them with my decision. I did convey to them that I did have the confidence that I could do the job. I was awakened at midnight on Sunday by a phone call from Mitch Kupchak. He told me that the Lakers had signed Mike D'Antoni to a 3-year agreement and that they felt he was the best coach for the team. The decision is of course theirs to make. I am gratified by the groundswell of support from the Laker Fans who endorsed my return and it is the principal reason why I considered the possibility.

Do you think the team made the right decision in hiring Mike D'Antoni as their head coach? Let us know in the comments section below!

Props: USA Today