One Big Vote for Jackson

If USA Basketball has begun the process of choosing Larry Brown and not Phil Jackson as its next Olympic coach, then it probably should start looking for a center too.

“There’s a pain on the outside part of my knee in 2004,” Shaquille O’Neal said with a crooked smile Sunday afternoon. “If Phil’s not the coach, I probably would not play through the pain.

“It’s too far ahead to think about. However, my knee will be hurting in 2004. Larry Brown’s a good guy. I love Larry Brown to death. So, I really can’t answer that right now.”

The selection committee met through Saturday in New York. While a coach was not named, the front-runner -- Brown, according to one report and confirmed from an official inside the organization -- was identified, and the mechanics of the selection (signing the contract, etc.) began.

Jackson said he was not disappointed.

“There’s plenty of guys who have served over a period of time as assistant coaches that probably deserve a chance,” he said. “Those guys obviously spent some time building credentials with the committee.”

He added that he would not serve as an assistant to curry the same favor with USA Basketball for the 2008 Games, because he would not be an NBA coach in six-plus years.

“Once you leave active coaching, you lose touch with some of the players that are going to be there and be an important part of the team, and their style of play and how they relate to the team,” Jackson said. “You’ve got to be on top of that.”

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O’Neal said he probably would not play on the upcoming trip through Dallas and San Antonio, and that he continues to focus on a Friday return against the Chicago Bulls.

Jackson would not rule out O’Neal playing Wednesday against the Spurs.

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O’Neal, on ending his brief feud with Bill Walton: “From now on, I only respond to comments from real legendary big men. You quote me on that. I said it. Real legendary big men. Like, Mr. Russell. Mr. Abdul[-Jabbar]. Mr. Mikan. I don’t need his help.”

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Devean George (ankle) and Mark Madsen (hamstring) could be available by Tuesday night’s game in Dallas.