Only in L.A., Jackson Says

A year ago, wracked by kidney stones, a yet-undetected blocked heart artery and a closet full of old suits, Phil Jackson contemplated riding off to Montana for good.

Another postseason now less than two weeks away, time isn’t the only thing that has passed, the stent is sound and last year’s designs have been replaced by a rack of three-piece numbers.

As a result, Jackson, at 58, is healthy and happy and somewhat optimistic about continuing his coaching career. For the first time since his contract extension negotiations were suspended by owner Jerry Buss seven weeks ago, Jackson said he would only coach in Los Angeles, only for the Lakers.

“I have no intention of being anywhere else if I’m going to coach,” he said. “So, if I coach, it would only be here.”

Negotiations apparently won’t restart until after the season and there is nothing to prevent other organizations -- the New York Knicks, Dallas Mavericks, etc. -- from throwing bags of money at Jackson.

But perhaps inspired by a perfect Sunday morning in Playa del Rey and a traffic-free drive to Staples Center with girlfriend Jeanie Buss, Jackson seemed to have his mind made up. He also said he was feeling less fatigued by the regular season than inspired by the coming postseason.

“Last year I kind of was feeling washed out, dragged out by the year,” Jackson said. “I felt probably like the players felt, but didn’t know why. This year, I feel ready, ready to get into a challenge.

“I know it’s really a challenging part of the year, to be involved in the playoffs. Your sleep goes from six hours to four hours a night for coaches. You really have to put a lot of time into doing what you’re trying to do in this part of the year. But the energy you have to put out for the team to inspire them to get their full attention and concentrated effort -- it’s really what you have to have as a coach.”

Some of the failure last season, Jackson said, was because of his lack of energy.

“It certainly is part of what I felt,” he said. “Now, Jeanie told me I didn’t even go out and get new suits last year. I went through the whole season without even going to my tailor. Usually that’s part of my getting ready for the year.”

He didn’t say if he had his eye on a new wardrobe beyond this one. “I’m optimistic that I can continue to coach next season,” he said. “Whether I will or not is another question.”

*

Bill Sharman could become the third person to be honored by the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame as both a player and coach today, when the institution’s class of 2004 is announced.

Enshrined as a player in 1976, Sharman is one of 16 finalists, this time in the coaching category. John Wooden and Lenny Wilkens are enshrined as players and coaches.

Sharman, at 77 a Laker consultant, is the only coach to win a championship and be coach of the year in three leagues, the ABL, ABA and NBA. In 1972, he coached the Lakers to a 69-13 record and the NBA title.

*

Slava Medvedenko’s cellphone rang in his locker Sunday afternoon, but Medvedenko was on the court, shooting jumpers. So Horace Grant leaned over, picked it up and, in an Ivan Drago accent, said, “Hello? I will break you.”

*

After committing five turnovers in 21 minutes against San Antonio and generally having a rough go of it, Rick Fox smiled ruefully and said, “I don’t play 12:30 games well.”

*

Tuesday’s game against the Portland Trail Blazers is a 7 p.m. start. ... Medvedenko left the game in the fourth quarter with back spasms and did not return. Medvedenko’s family, including his parents, is visiting from Ukraine. ... Grant said he hopes to come off the injured list and play Friday against the Memphis Grizzlies. He intends to have surgery after the season to repair a tear in the labrum of his hip.