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Former Bulls' coach Phil Jackson atop Lakers' wish list

After firing their coach five games into the NBA season, the Los Angeles Lakers have set their sights on the most decorated coach in league history as a replacement.

By Jeff Newman
Lisa Blumenfeld

Former Chicago Bulls coach and 11-time NBA champion Phil Jackson is a top choice to replace Mike Brown as coach of the Los Angeles Lakers, Ramona Shelburne of ESPNLosAngeles.com reported.

Mike D'Antoni, who resigned in March midway through his fourth season as coach of the New York Knicks, also sits atop the Lakers' short wish list of "four or five names," but Jackson's past success in L.A., where he won five championships, has focused speculation on the Zenmaster's potential return.

After retiring following the 2011 season, Jackson is reportedly open to coaching in the NBA again, but he and the team would need to be a "philosophical match," sources told ESPNLosAngeles.com. Jackson won six rings as coach of the Bulls between 1989 and 1998, and five more with the Lakers between 1999 and 2011.

D'Antoni, who also coached the Phoenix Suns from 2003 to 2008, reportedly had recent knee-replacement surgery, but could be ready to coach again within two weeks.

After adding Dwight Howard and Steve Nash in the off-season, the Lakers entered the season with championship hopes but fired Brown after the team began 1-4. Interim coach Bernie Bickerstaff has committed to coaching only a few games.