Bulls’ Jackson Calls It Quits

He was a mediator, a motivator, an ex-hippie and above all, a master of Zen who somehow managed to blend a mix of super egos into a team for the ages.

And now, with the gleam of a sixth NBA trophy not yet dimmed, Phil Jackson is walking away.

Despite an offer from chairman Jerry Reinsdorf to coach the Bulls for another year, Jackson won’t return to the Bulls, his attorney, Todd Musburger, confirmed Sunday night. Aside from an extended vacation, Jackson has no future plans, Musburger said.

Jackson’s departure was first reported in an interview with Newsweek magazine, which goes on sale today.

“It is accurate,” Musburger told Associated Press.

Neither Jackson, Reinsdorf or Bulls General Manager Jerry Krause returned messages that were left for them Sunday by AP.

That Jackson is leaving comes hardly as a surprise. His relations this season with Krause were strained, at best, and Jackson said after signing a one-year, $6-million contract last summer that “wild horses” could not bring him back for another year.

He billed Chicago’s sixth championship run the “Last Dance,” and said his public goodbye at the Bulls’ citywide celebration last week.

“I said no, it’s time for me to step away and enjoy some different things,” Jackson told Newsweek.

“For me, it’s the perfect conclusion to a wonderful team,” he said. “There’s nothing we can do to top this anymore. Now it’s time to step back from the game for a while.”

Jackson has had “discreet feelers” from other teams, but Musburger said Jackson does not have another job. Jackson told Newsweek he did not expect to coach anywhere next season.

“This announcement will not be accompanied by an announcement from another club,” Musburger said.

Jackson has said he would like to take a year off and explore his other interests. He leaves this week for a vacation in Turkey with former New York Knick teammate and U.S. senator Bill Bradley, who is considering a presidential bid.