How could a keeper of 11 NBA championships ever be passed up for a coaching job? More important, how could the Lakers ever dismiss Jackson's accomplishments when he's won of five his 11 titles here in two separate stints?
"It's very strange," Bryant said after the Lakers' 84-82 loss Tuesday to the San Antonio Spurs. "You would think that organizations and other coaches would try to learn from Phil. That's what they should do.
"If you have a coach that has won more than anybody, you would want to study and analyze them and wonder why that is the case. They haven't done it."
Yes, Bryant is still excited about the Lakers hiring Mike D'Antoni as their new head coach. He even revealed he was the first choice he recommended to the Lakers' front office. But that was because, at the time, Bryant said he didn't know Jackson even was considered a candidate since he had retired from the game two years ago.
Once Bryant learned he was in the mix, though, he campaigned hard.
He relished the "We Want Phil" chants showering down from the Lakers fans at Staples Center. Bryant glowingly sang his praises in news conferences.
He acknowledged the unsettled feeling that his injured right knee partly contributed to the Lakers falling in a four-game sweep to the Dallas Mavericks in the 2011 Western
Conference semifinals in Jackson's last season.The reason for Bryant's want for Jackson to return? Easy. Bryant provided a startling admission on whether he'd have five NBA titles if not for Jackson's guidance.
"Probably not," Bryant said.
MAGIC GRIEVES
After staying silent for two days about the D'Antoni hire, Magic Johnson took to Twitter.
"I've been mourning Phil Jackson not being hired as the Lakers head coach," Johnson tweeted. "My mother always taught me that if you don't have anything nice to say, don't say anything at all."
HIGHLIGHT REEL
If his time with the New York Knicks indicated anything, Chris Duhon wouldn't be surprised if D'Antoni spends his first day presenting a highlight film of each player.
"It gave all the guys a lot of confidence," said Duhon, who played for D'Antoni from 2008-10. "It was definitely a first for me. It really lightened the mood."
Still, Duhon scoffed at the widely held perception D'Antoni's system will entail little defense.
"You have Kobe, you have Metta (World Peace), you have Pau (Gasol) and you have Dwight Howard, obviously, protecting the paint," Duhon said.
"These guys have pride. They're not going to give up 157 points."
INJURY UPDATE
Lakers reserve forward Jordan Hill, who has a sprained right wrist, is considered probable for Friday's game against the Phoenix Suns.
"It's not bad," Hill told this newspaper following the Lakers' loss Tuesday. "It's tolerable."
The Lakers had the day off Wednesday, but Hill spent that time receiving treatment.
He wore a brace to support the wrist. Immediately after the game, Hill sat by his locker stall receiving stimulation treatment. Hill, who also has monitored a herniated disk in his back, said he couldn't remember how he injured his wrist.
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