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The following month, O’Neal was traded to Miami while Bryant stayed with the Lakers.
“I want to congratulate Phil on returning to coach the Lakers,” O’Neal said in a statement released through the Heat. “He is one of the premier coaches. I wish him the very best.”
O’Neal’s representatives did not return repeated calls and e-mails seeking additional comment.
Tomjanovich succeeded Jackson, signing a five-year, $30 million contract, but lasted barely half a season, citing health reasons when he suddenly resigned Feb. 2.
With injuries playing a major role, the Lakers lost 19 of their last 21 games under interim coach Frank Hamblen to finish 34-48 and out of the playoffs for just the second time since 1976.
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Jackson also has a record 175 postseason victories and is tied for 10th on the NBA’s career list with 832 wins in just 14 seasons — nine with the Bulls and five with the Lakers. He has a .725 regular-season winning percentage and a .717 postseason winning percentage.
The Lakers were 287-123 in the regular season and 64-28 in the postseason under Jackson. But this figures to be his biggest challenge because the current team doesn’t appear to have what it takes to return to elite status any time soon.
The Lakers are well over the salary cap, restricting their ability to bring in high-priced free-agent talent for at least two years. Their defense was abysmal last season; they had an unbalanced roster with too many small forwards; they had virtually no inside presence; and they were suspect at point guard.
“I’m not the panacea for this basketball club,” Jackson said. “It’s going to take plenty of hard work and dedication over the course of the summer to change the face of this team.”
Jackson said winning a 10th championship is not a priority and didn’t sound like he expected that in the next three years.
“I would be most amazed if at the end of the third year we had an opportunity to do that,” he said.
“He said the same thing the first time we hired him. I hope the same thing unfolds,” Kupchak said.
Jackson spoke to several other teams, including the New York Knicks. His decision to rejoin the Lakers should speed up the process of filling other job openings around the league. There are coaching vacancies in Minnesota and Portland, and Seattle coach Nate McMillan’s contract expires at the end of this month.
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