Phil Jackson apologizes for questioning Miami Heat's coaching situation
According to a recent report published by ESPNLosAngeles.com, Los Angeles Lakers head coach Phil Jackson apologized on Friday 26 November for the statements he made earlier this week regarding the struggling Miami Heat and their coaching situation.
Jackson’s comments made a reference to the Heat’s coaching situation back in 2005-06, when then-coach Stan Van Gundy was relieved of his duties by team president Pat Riley. Seeing as how the Heat went on to win the NBA championship that season, Jackson suggested
that current Heat coach Erik Spoelstra could encounter a similar fate if Miami is unable to alter their early season woes. Shortly thereafter, Van Gundy, who currently coaches the Orlando Magic, deemed Jackson’s comments as “ignorant” and “inappropriate.”
After the Heat fell to 8-6 earlier this week, Jackson implied that a coaching change similar to the one Van Gundy experienced could be in order for Spoelstra, primarily given the fact that Miami was picked by many to be title contenders with the off-season
acquisitions of All-Star forwards LeBron James and Chris Bosh.
“It was an off-handed remark about if things continue to go poorly for Miami, what might happen,” Jackson said following his team’s shoot-around this morning, the website reported. “But, obviously Stan felt that he had to say something. Unfortunately he got
defensive about it. I didn’t mean to do that. I should apologize because I do know about his situation.”
However, even after offering the apology, it didn’t take long for Jackson to echo back, this time firing at Van Gundy.
“Stan was going home to be with his family and that was his reason for leaving,” Jackson said. “I have no idea about the rest of it; why he came back out [to a head coaching job] after retiring and being with his family. But, that’s his decision and fine.”
And although Jackson started out the week by questioning Spoelstra’s job security, he insists that he meant Miami’s head coach no harm.
“I’m not throwing any aspersions on Spoelstra,” he said. “He’s a very fine young coach.”
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