While there has been speculation that former Los Angeles Lakers coach Phil Jackson could return to L.A., or go to New York, Sacramento or Cleveland next season, Jackson has said little.
His agent, Todd Musberger, and girlfriend, Lakers executive vice president Jeannie Buss, recently have spoken on his behalf. But next Sunday, expect the L.A. media to arrive in droves at an odd setting, in hopes of talking to Jackson at the late Wilt Chamberlain’s old home.
Jackson is expected at Chamberlain’s Bel Air bachelor pad for a cocktail party to commemorate the publication of “Wilt 1962: The Night of 100 Points and the Dawn of a New Era,” Gary Pomerantz’s new book on Chamberlain’s landmark 1961- 62 NBA season.
The 35-year-old modern-style home is 7,100-plus square feet, has a 9-foot high showerhead, a triangular bathtub and 14-carat gold-leaf tiles. The home’s most talked-about feature is the master bedroom, where you can either look at yourself in a mirror above the bed or push a button that opens the roof, so you can sleep under the stars.
Chamberlain, who died in 1999, averaged an NBA-record 50.4 points and scored an NBA-record 100 points in one game in the 1961-62 season.
Pistons rested
The world champion Detroit Pistons last played on Tuesday and won’t play again until Monday, against Indiana in the second round.
The Miami Heat also got a lot of rest between rounds. The Heat, which had the Eastern Conference’s best regular-season record, opens its series against Washington today.
“Rest helps if you have guys that need to heal from injuries, but most teams like to continue to play,” Pistons president Joe Dumars said.
Dumars was a member of Detroit’s famed “Bad Boys” team that won back-to-back titles in 1989 and 1990. He believes the current champions have the mental fortitude and talent to repeat.
“Anytime you win a championship, you become much stronger from a mental standpoint,” Dumars said. “You can’t put a value on the experience of winning a world championship. … It’s always tough to repeat as champions, because the road is usually much tougher, but the flip side is that you’re much stronger as a team as well.”
Footnotes
Along with celebrating the Kentucky Derby, Louisville also marked the 30-year anniversary of the ABA Kentucky Colonels winning the American Basketball Association championship. Dan Issel, Artis Gilmore, Louis Dampier and coach Hubie Brown were on hand for a dinner, a Derby parade and the Derby.
“That team had everything,” Issel said. “(Brown) said it was the best team that he coached. In our minds, that’s the best team we played on.” …
Nuggets forward Carmelo Anthony may travel to China to take part in the NBA’s Basketball Without Borders camp, an international outreach program featuring top prospects from the region. The program heads to China for the first time with Houston all-star center Yao Ming from July 14-17. Anthony, who grew up in Baltimore, will film an anti-violence public service announcement with Maryland Gov. Robert L. Ehrlich Jr. Anthony also could be going to Europe in June to film a commercial. Through his offseason travels, Anthony said he plans on having a personal trainer with him. … A positive sign that Greg Buckner could be back as a Nugget is the Greg Buckner Basketball Camp at the Denver Athletic Club from July 11-15. Nuggets forward Mark Pope and former Nugget Chris Whitney are expected to attend. … Nuggets center Marcus Camby is buying a home in Houston this summer. He plans on working out in Houston with numerous NBA players, under the guidance of former NBA coach and player John Lucas Sr.
