Coach Jackson coy on his future

Los Angeles Lakers coach Phil Jackson says he knows what he’ll be doing next season. He’s just not ready to tell everybody else about it.

Jackson remained coy about his future before Los Angeles beat the Utah Jazz 111-103 to lead their second-round playoff series 2-0 late Tuesday.

Yet the 10-time NBA champion coach downplayed growing speculation he could leave the Lakers for a lucrative job elsewhere. When pressed, Jackson said he can’t see himself coaching any team but the Lakers next season—if he coaches.

Jackson later gave himself a bit of wiggle room.

“I’d say it’s a 90 percent chance if I’m coaching, it would be here,” Jackson said.

Any Chicago Bulls fans hoping for Jackson’s return shouldn’t hold their breath: He acknowledged no interest in the vacancy in Chicago, where Jackson won six championships in the 1990s with Michael Jordan.

“No, I’m not (interested), and I think it’s a wonderful job for whoever takes it,” Jackson said. “It’s a team on the rise, and they showed an ability to come back after a devastating first few months.”