NESN

Phil Jackson Skips Out Last-Minute on Speaking Engagement Hours Before Mike Brown’s Firing

It’s time to ramp up the rumors in Lakerland.

On Friday, Los Angeles announced the firing of head coach Mike Brown, who had started the season 1-4, before taking on the Golden State Warriors later in the evening. This also came two days after star Kobe Bryant‘s “death stare,” which followed a 95-86 loss to the Utah Jazz.

So, it was only natural that the Phil Jackson rumors would begin swirling, right? Well, don’t read too much into this, but it could be something. If nothing else, Jackson certainly hasn’t ruled out coaching again in the NBA.

Financial Advisor magazine reported Thursday that, last-minute, Jackson bowed out of a speaking engagement at the annual Schwab Advisor Services IMPACT conference in Chicago. Jackson has been an active public speaker since his third retirement (heck, if you want to book him, you can head over to the website for The Harry Walker Agency), so the timing of the cancellation is interesting.

And, for the record, Jackson’s replacement at the conference? Former M*A*S*H star Alan Alda.