DALLAS (Reuters) - Phil Jackson, the most successful coach in NBA history, walked gingerly off the court for what is likely to be the final time following the Los Angeles Lakers' season-ending loss to the Dallas Mavericks on Sunday.
"All of my hopes and aspirations are that this is the final game that I will coach," Jackson told reporters after his Lakers were swept from the playoffs in a crushing 122-86 defeat to the Mavericks.
"This has been a wonderful run. I go out with a sour note after being fined 35,000 dollars by the league earlier today."
The NBA fined Jackson earlier in the day for comments made about the officiating in the series.
There is considerable caution about declaring a definitive end to Jackson's career as he has walked away from the game before only to return after a break.
Jackson ended his tenure with the Bulls in 1998, and after a one-year absence, joined the Lakers in the 1999-2000 season. Following a loss with Los Angeles in the NBA Finals in 2004, Jackson took another year out before rejoining the Lakers for a second stint in the 2005-06 campaign.
"It's tough to put into words what he's meant for me," Bryant said. "I grew up under him. The way I approach and think about things, a lot of it comes from him because I've been around him so much.
"It's a little weird for me to think of what next year is going to be like."
(Writing by Jahmal Corner in Los Angeles, editing by Nick Mulvenney)
