Jackson in Same Town as Bryant on Night of Incident

CHICAGO (Sept. 28) -- Los Angeles Lakers coach Phil Jackson was in Eagle, Colo., on the same night that Kobe Bryant allegedly sexually assaulted a hotel employee there, a newspaper reported.

"Unbeknownst to me, he was just six miles down the road," Jackson said in a story being published in the Chicago Tribune on Monday. "We weren't aware of the fact," said Jackson, who was on a motorcycle trip when he decided to stop and spend the night in Eagle.

Bryant is accused of raping a woman June 30 at the mountain resort where she worked. The Lakers star, who was in Eagle prior to having knee surgery, claims the two had consensual sex.

Bryant had not informed the Lakers of when he was having surgery, and Jackson did not know that his player was just up the road when he stopped for the night. Jackson had planned to travel 600 miles on his motorcycle that day but was driving into a headwind and decided to stop after 480 miles.

It is an incredible coincidence that he picked the town where his superstar player also was staying.

"We weren't aware of the fact. We knew he was looking for medical clinics to appraise his knee and the situation. But it caught us by surprise," Jackson said.

Bryant is due to report to training camp with the Lakers in Honolulu later this week. He is expected to speak to the media on Friday, making his first extended comments since he sat alongside his wife at a Staples Center news conference in July and said he had committed adultery.

Bryant is scheduled to appear for an Oct. 9 preliminary hearing at which Eagle County Judge Frederick Gannett will decide whether he will stand trial


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