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Lakers say 95% chance Phil Jackson returns to coach

The Los Angeles Lakers reportedly think there's a 95 percent chance Phil Jackson returns to coach in 2012.

By James Brady
Kevork Djansezian

Phil Jackson could return to coaching, once again. The former legendary Chicago Bulls coach might return to the Los Angeles Lakers, the only team he's known since joining the organization in 1999. Jackson has been away from the game for an offseason and the first few games on 2012, but that's it. He coached the Lakers last year.

According to the L.A. Times, the Lakers think there's a 95 percent change that Jackson agrees to return to coaching to take the Lakers position. Or at least, this is what one person within the organization said, according to the Times. The Lakers met with Jackson on Saturday.

The other 5 percent could be any number of things, though it's unlikely the current state of the team is on that list. Jackson might be intrigued to have a player like Dwight Howard to work with alongside Kobe Bryant. It's more likely that health issues, or the fact that he's enjoying his time away from the game, could account for the aforementioned 5 percent.

If that 5 percent happens, the Times reported on some other candidates that Los Angeles is looking at, including Mike D'Antoni, Nate McMillan and Mike Dunleavy.