Rambis won’t succeed Phil Jackson with Lakers
Remember when Lakers coach Phil Jackson was talking about just coaching home games this year and letting assistant Kurt Rambis handle all the road games?
Jackson’s reasoning was that it would be less of a strain on his hip and that he trusted Rambis to handle the team. It was widely assumed that Rambis would take over for Jackson whenever he stepped down for good.
However, Rambis has agreed to coach the Minnesota Timberwolves. The 51-year-old Rambis has been an assistant with the Lakers for most of the past seven seasons. He won four titles as a player with the Lakers in the 1980s and two more as an assistant coach, including last season when he served as the team’s defensive coordinator.
“It’s ‘best of luck’ that the coaching staff sends to Kurt Rambis as he takes on the coaching duties with the Minnesota Timberwolves,” Jackson said. “Kurt has been the workhorse of my staff the past few years.
He’s worked with the youth of our team, coming in early and staying late, to help players develop. Last season he took on the responsibility as the defensive coordinator, a valuable part of our championship run. We will miss him, but know this is his time to do what he’s destined to do.”
The Timberwolves have not made the playoffs since 2004 and won just 24 games last season. It’s clear Rambis took this job because he didn’t believe he had a shot at the Lakers’ top job.
So what does this mean for the Lakers in 2010-11, with this season expected to be Jackson’s last? You can almost bet on the fact that Brian Shaw will take over as coach. The current Laker assistant has the respect of Kobe Bryant, which is all that matters. Bryant would probably like to lure Mike Krzyzweski from Duke, but that won’t happen.
According to the L.A. Times, the only thing standing between Shaw and the Lakers head coaching job next season is another former Laker and current Hornets coach Byron Scott. Scott was also Kobe’s teammate during his rookie season and his mentor. And Scott’s contract with the Hornets expires at the end of next season.
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