Lakers' Title a Surprise to Jackson

When He Returned to L.A., Hall of Fame Coach Didn't Think He'd Win Again

ORLANDO, June 15 -- On his way to a record 10 NBA championships with the Chicago Bulls and the Los Angeles Lakers, Phil Jackson used an exercise with his players called the "safe spot" that would allow them to visualize success and eventually accomplish their goals.

But when he came back to the Lakers in 2005 after a year-long "sabbatical" in the South Pacific, Jackson was unable to envision that in just four years he would emerge from the visitor's locker room at Amway Arena, drenched from a champagne shower, sporting a huge grin and a bright yellow cap with a purple X, the Roman numeral for 10.

"I didn't anticipate we'd win," Jackson said of his return, after leading the Lakers to the franchise's 15th championship with a 99-86 win over the Orlando Magic on Sunday. "I thought maybe I'd build the steps to a winning team, but I didn't think I'd be a part of it, and this is much quicker than I thought it would happen."

But after the Lakers' five-game victory over the Magic -- pushing Jackson past Celtics great Red Auerbach (nine titles), Kobe Bryant into a tie with Shaquille O'Neal and Tim Duncan with four rings, and the Lakers within two championships of catching Boston -- the question now is if this is the beginning of another storied run for Jackson and the Lakers, or just the end of a seven-year drought for the franchise.

Jackson said he will take time after the season to contemplate his future, but his agent, Todd Musburger, said late Sunday that Jackson would return; he has one year remaining on his contract, which will pay him $12 million next season. Forwards Lamar Odom and Trevor Ariza will become free agents, and the Lakers will have to decide to keep one or both, which could be difficult with the 23-year-old Ariza expecting an increase on his $2.9 million salary and the 29-year-old Odom still believing he can be a starter after spending this season as a sixth man.

"We obviously have some guys that are free agents that it's going to be important to re-sign in order to start thinking about the future and what this team can accomplish going forward," veteran point guard Derek Fisher said. "You know it's easy to shy away from expectations, but at the point in my career that I am, why run from it?

"We'll see what happens, but definitely when we start training camp next season and have our ring ceremony at Staples Center the first game of the regular season, all thoughts will be on winning another championship."

The unlikely probability he would win a title gave Jackson pause about having a second stint with the Lakers. He took over a lottery team that featured a transcendent, future Hall of Fame talent yet unproven leader in Bryant; a gifted player but career underachiever in Odom; and some other less savory ancillary pieces. He certainly wasn't set for an immediate Michael Jordan- or O'Neal-fueled run of dominance.

Then came the rapid, reactionary rebuilding project -- the result of Bryant's 2007 trade demand after the Lakers had suffered their second consecutive first-round exit to the Phoenix Suns. Bryant's demand nearly obliterated Jackson's plan of simply getting good. But Jackson was able to defuse the situation and help Bryant win his only league most valuable player award.

Lakers General Manager Mitch Kupchak also became opportunistic in building a contender. Fisher asked out of his contract with Utah and returned to Los Angeles to find better hospitals to treat his daughter's rare eye cancer, a move that cost Fisher almost $7 million. Kupchak spotted an unused player with untapped talent in Ariza and plucked him from Orlando in shrewd trade. And finally, he took advantage of financially strapped Memphis and used Kwame Brown's expiring contract to get Bryant an all-star caliber running mate in Pau Gasol.

"Got a new point guard, got a new wing, got a Spaniard, and then it was all good," said Bryant, the Finals MVP who in the past four years has changed his approach, changed jersey numbers and found teammates willing to follow him.

It wasn't that simple. Odom had to become a player who impressed more than frustrated. The Lakers also had to endure the hardship of getting embarrassed by the Boston Celtics in the NBA Finals last season, and Bryant had to absorb another round of criticism that he could not win without O'Neal.

"It was just silly," Bryant said. "It's probably the first dynamic duo that had two alpha males on one team. We managed to make it work for three championships. For me, it's about the years we had but also enjoying the years to come."

Bryant added Jackson never told him he didn't think he'd win another championship with the Lakers. "What? Are you crazy?" Bryant said. "Phil, he always stays in the moment, so the fact that he does that doesn't surprise me. He continued to push us, continued to challenge us, and here we are."

Back in a safe spot.

"I think I've said this before," Jackson said. "The journey is what's really important, and it's important for the players and the coaches to watch these kids come together and form a unit and be supportive of each other, and this was no exception, this team. I really feel strongly that this is about them."