LOS ANGELES — Phil Jackson will return to coach the Los Angeles Lakers next season, getting a clean bill of health following a record championship season.
The Hall of Fame coach turns 64 in September and said on the team’s Web site Friday he got the go-ahead for another season after consulting the team doctor.
Jackson led the Lakers to their 15th NBA championship and his 10th title in June, breaking the mark he shared with the late Boston Celtics coach Red Auerbach.
“I feel confident that I can gainfully pursue an NBA season with another long playoff postseason,” he said. “All things point to go!”
He signed a two-year contract extension last season and holds the option on a second year.
Last season, Jackson missed two West Coast road games because of pain and swelling in his lower legs caused by plantar fasciitis, a problem he had checked out. He blamed late-night flights that aggravated the condition.
He has undergone two hip replacement operations since October 2006 — using a cane at various times — and walks with a noticeable hitch in his step. He underwent an angioplasty in 2003 to open a clogged artery in his heart.
Jackson became the Lakers’ coach in 1999, and guided the team to NBA titles in each of his first three seasons. He left following the 2003-04 season but returned the following season.
Turkoglu, Blazers end talks
PORTLAND, Ore. — Free-agent forward Hedo Turkoglu and the Portland Trail Blazers have ended contract talks, a person close to the team confirmed Friday.
The person spoke on the condition of anonymity because of the sensitive nature of the negotiations.
Turkoglu’s agent, Lon Babby, didn’t immediately return calls or e-mails.
The 6-foot-10 forward who helped the Orlando Magic to the NBA finals arrived in Portland on Thursday to meet Blazers executives and tour the city. He was scheduled to leave on Saturday.
Report: Celtics want Wallace
BOSTON — The Boston Globe reported Friday that the Boston Celtics offered Rasheed Wallace a deal during a three-hour meeting in Detroit on Thursday. Celtics stars Kevin Garnett, Ray Allen and Paul Pierce joined general manager Danny Ainge and managing partner Wyc Grousbeck at the meeting. Wallace averaged 12 points per game for Detroit last year, before falling to 6.5 points per game in the first round of the playoffs as Detroit was swept in four games by Cleveland.
Team U.S.A. moves on
AUCKLAND, New Zealand — Seth Curry scored 12 points to lead the United States to a 71-55 victory over France on Friday, sending the Americans into the second round of the FIBA under-19 world junior basketball championships.
Gasol will play for Spain
ALICANTE, Spain — Los Angeles Lakers center Pau Gasol will play for Spain in September in the European Basketball Championship.
Gasol said Friday that it was an easy decision after winning the NBA finals.
“The season went really well for me and now I want to defend our country,” Gasol said. “We’re really hopeful about the team we have, but we can’t go there with a mentality that we’ll be playing the final just because we’re really good.”
World champion Spain, upset by Russia in the European final at Madrid in 2007, is one of the favorites going to Poland after a silver-medal performance in Olympics.
Talk to us
> Give us your news tips.
> Send us a letter to the editor.
> More Herald contact information.
