Didn't see this posted anywhere... http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=1632466 Jackson thinking ahead, but in wrong direction Michael Jordan playing for the Lakers? The thought has occurred to Phil Jackson. But it hasn't occurred to MJ, who said his answer would be no. Jackson, the Lakers coach and Jordan's former coach in Chicago, intimated in a published report that he has reluctantly considered a scenario in which Jordan would play for him if Kobe Bryant is unable to. "It has crossed my mind," Jackson told the Chicago Tribune for Tuesday's editions. "But I don't think I'd ask Michael that question until it became absolutely necessary or it became a reality. It's just speculation." Jordan, 40, has not dropped hints that he'll play again. In fact, his response -- issued through a spokeswoman -- was short, to the point and unequivocal: "100 percent no." Jordan retired after last season as a Washington Wizard, missing the playoffs for a second straight season. He butted heads with teammates and ownership and, ultimately, was fired when he tried to return to his front-office position with the franchise. Bryant has a scheduled court appearance in Eagle, Colo., on Thursday, when it will be determined in a preliminary hearing whether he will stand trial for felony sexual assault. A trial date has not been set, and it is possible that a trial could come during the NBA's regular season or during the playoffs. The thinking is Jackson wants Bryant to be able to straighten out his personal life and get back to being the 25-year-old star player he's known to be on the court. Bryant has acknowledged that he considered not playing this season, a revelation that may have gotten Jackson thinking about short-term roster alternatives. Bryant has denied raping his 19-year-old accuser, contending he was guilty only of adultery for having consensual sex with the woman. Meanwhile, Bryant is continuing to build strength after having offseason shoulder and knee surgery. At 205, he's 15 pounds lighter than he was a year ago. Jackson said Monday that Bryant probably will not play until the Lakers' Oct. 14 preseason game against Phoenix in San Diego. "I can pretty much do everything except explode. My leg is weak at some spots," Bryant said in Honolulu, where the Lakers hold training camp.
wonder if it's 100% no i'm retired or 100% no, my ego is too big to play with the likes of malone, payton, kobe and shaq (whether or not that means he doesn't like em or he feels he would never need em/share limelight with them)
nice try of Phil to try to create a distraction so the media wouldnt be all over Kobe as much. not really sure why he thought it would work though..
Jordan doesn't have an ego like that. As much as he's done you've never heard him say anything about how great he is, it's always been the media saying that. Jordan's the one who practically played for free, proving he's only in it cause he loves to play. Jordan's the one who refused 1,000,000 times to start in the all-star game, but was ultimately forced to at tipoff. Jordan could have been the biggest jack-ass in history, but he remained humble throughout all of it.
