Jackson Ambivalent About Return to Chicago

Six camera crews and almost 40 media representatives crammed into a Moody Bible Institute meeting room Monday to document former Bull coach Phil Jackson’s first trip back here since he became the Laker coach.

At a news conference preceding the Lakers’ practice, Jackson said that after last May’s ceremony at the United Center, when his name was put in the rafters with the six championship banners and Michael Jordan’s No. 23, he did not have many unresolved issues with the franchise.

But he said he can’t predict how he’ll feel, actually coaching the opposition at the United Center for the first time tonight.

“I wish I could anticipate what the emotions will be like, but I really can’t,” Jackson said. “I know it’s going to be an emotional time, but I don’t know to what level. . . .

“There’s still the aspect of walking out of the visiting locker room and getting onto the court, going through that tunnel out on the floor, that are going to be moments of suspense and drama.”

Said Shaquille O’Neal, “It’s going to be a special time for him. We just want to get this game for him.”

Jackson said he did not anticipate speaking to either Bull owner Jerry Reinsdorf or General Manager Jerry Krause during his time here, “although I have an open avenue with Jerry Reinsdorf,” Jackson added.

Former Chicago and current Laker assistants Tex Winter and Frank Hamblen force him to keep abreast of the Bulls, Jackson joked, by watching their games in the coaches’ locker room. Does he think the Bulls should trade Toni Kukoc?

“Well, I would say yes to that immediately--they should trade him,” said Jackson, who has been open about his interest in acquiring the 6-foot-11 forward.

But Jackson also said he has been warned by the NBA to cease commenting about other teams’ players.

“That’s a decision they have to make,” Jackson said. “Are they going to continue building this franchise with Toni? Or are they going to go another way and have to resume the youthful group? That’s a decision that Jerry Krause and Jerry Reinsdorf will make.”

*

A Laker spokesman confirmed that O’Neal hurt his right rotator cuff in Sunday’s All-Star game, which is why he did not play in the fourth quarter.

But O’Neal said he wasn’t bothered by the problem--probably a recurrence of a tweak he felt in the first two weeks of the season.

TONIGHT

at Chicago, 5 PST

Channel 9, TNT

* Site--United Center.

* Radio--KLAC (570).

* Records--Lakers 37-11, Bulls 10-37.

* Record vs. Bulls--1-0.

* Update--Laker guard Ron Harper, who is returning to Chicago, where he won three titles with Jackson and stayed around without him last season, said there definitely will be mixed emotions. “Phil is the man,” Harper said. “I’m sure he feels kind of strange too.”