Very reliable source says Jackson likely to return

LOS ANGELES — Phil Jackson seems likely to return to the Lakers next season after all — at least according to somebody who probably knows.

Jeanie Buss, the Lakers’ executive vice president of business operations, told a radio interviewer there’s a 95 percent chance Jackson will return for a sixth year with the Lakers despite a season of uncertainty surrounding his future.

Of course, Buss has plenty of insight into the situation: She’s the daughter of Lakers owner Jerry Buss, and also Jackson’s girlfriend.

Ever since the Lakers broke off contract talks last winter, Jackson has said he won’t address his future until after the season. When asked whether Jeanie’s comments reflected any special knowledge, Jackson didn’t blink.

“No, she freelanced on it,” he said.

Love to pull a switch

As a rapper and actor whose fondest dream was to wear a Lakers jersey, Ice Cube knows why performers seem to want to be athletes — and vice versa.

“It’s a fascination I think we have with each other because we’re both addicted to performing in front of a crowd on a big stage,” the lifelong Lakers fan said before watching Game 2 of the NBA Finals. “And we both always feel like the grass is greener on the other side.

“Deion Sanders once told me that I had the best job in the world because I didn’t have to use my body to make money.”

Owner on the fly

Forgive Bill Davidson if he’s a little worn out. He’s been crisscrossing the country in pursuit of an incredible feat.

The Pistons’ owner arrived in Los Angeles at about 4 a.m. Tuesday after watching one of his other teams, the Tampa Bay Lightning, win the Stanley Cup on the other side of the country.

If the Pistons can win four games against the Los Angeles Lakers, Davidson will pull off an unprecedented single-season sweep of the NBA and NHL titles. Davidson also owns the Detroit Shock, the WNBA champions.

The 81-year-old billionaire attended Game 1 of the NBA Finals in Los Angeles on Sunday before traveling to Florida to see the Lightning’s clincher.

Master of motivation

Detroit coach Larry Brown might have provided a bit of motivational fire to the Lakers with a few comments caught by TV microphones during Game 1 — and Brown doesn’t blame the mikes at all.

During Los Angeles’ film session prior to Game 2, coach Phil Jackson played a clip in which Brown denigrates the Lakers’ defense and encourages the Pistons to take any shot they desire. Several Lakers cited the comments after practice on Monday.

But Brown had no concerns about possibly sparking the Lakers.

“I’ve always felt comfortable with people being in the huddle, because most people don’t realize coaches try to coach,” Brown said. “I don’t have a problem with that. I said it. That doesn’t mean I don’t respect them.

“I’m going to do the best I can to coach my team. If that’s what it takes to get those guys ready to play, I’ll apologize to my team, but I’m probably going to say the same thing.”

Jackson’s skills in motivation and psychology are well-documented, but Brown knows a bit about that business as well. In 2001, he bombarded the Philadelphia 76ers with clips of Kirk Gibson’s famed 1988 World Series homer for the Los Angeles Dodgers, Willis Reed taking the court in pain for the Knicks in the 1970 NBA Finals, and other players fighting through injuries.

“Some of my players were hurt in Philly that I thought maybe could have played,” Brown said. “They would say to the press, ‘God, Coach is a great motivator.’ The guy I was trying to motivate never played!”

Brown probably was alluding to 76ers center Matt Geiger, booed throughout the 2001 playoffs for his slow recovery from a leg injury during Philadelphia’s run to the finals. Geiger was out of basketball the next year — “and now he’s raising buffalo,” Brown said.