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Pippen
Would Like to Play in LA,
Jackson Says
Thu, Jul 08, 1999
LONG BEACH (Thursday, July 08, 1999) - Is
there any chance of Scottie Pippen playing
next season in a Lakers uniform?
That was the question on everyone's mind as new Laker
coach Phil Jackson met with the media on Thursday in
Long Beach, cite of the Summer Pro League that many of
the Lakers take part in.
Jackson has hinted he would like to re-unite with Pippen,
who helped the Bulls win 6 NBA titles, but now says the
whole process is in a holding stage.
"I think Scottie would be interested in coming here, that's
safe to say," Jackson admitted. "But I don't think that it's a
situation right now that we can talk about it. I've expressed
my own interest, but right now we don't' have a situation
where we can do it."
What about Michael Jordan? Has Jackson talked to him
about possibly returning to join him with the Lakers?
"No, I haven't spoke to him since I've been hired," Jackson
said.
The Lakers, coming off a disappointing postseason
performance, are trying to find the right pieces for the
upcoming season. Besides Pippen, names like Charles
Barkley and Dennis Rodman have been thrown around as
possible acquisitions.
In the end, though, Jackson knows that whoever he puts
on the court, better be physically and mentally ready to go
the distance.
"Watching personally as a basketball person, the two
things they need to work on are conditioning and defense,
and those two things go hand-in-hand," Jackson said.
"Players that aren't in great condition can't play great
defense and team defense is reflective of how well people
coordinate their efforts together toward each other. It's a
real giving condition and that's where we're starting." |
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