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LOS ANGELES — Los Angeles Lakers coach Phil Jackson will return next season, putting off retirement for at least another year to chase his 12th NBA championship.
Jackson made the announcement Thursday with a news release. The two-time defending champions’ coach said last week he was leaning toward retirement after another long season, but he changed his mind after getting a week to rest up at his offseason home in Montana.
“Count me in,” Jackson said. “After a couple weeks of deliberation, it is time to get back to the challenge of putting together a team that can defend its title in the 2010-11 season. It’ll be the last stand for me, and I hope a grand one.”
Jackson, who will turn 65 later this year, is the winningest coach in playoff history and the most successful coach in league history by almost any measure.
