Though he may not have been hired once again to be Los Angeles Lakers head coach, Phil Jackson will have an increased role within the Laker family going from coach to in-law.
The 11-time NBA champion coach proposed to his longtime girlfriend, Lakers executive vice president Jeanie Buss, over the Christmas holiday, and she accepted.
On Thursday, Buss tweeted a picture of a diamond ring with the caption: "Twitter family -- Phil finally gave me that ring I wanted ! :-) "
Jackson, 67, and Buss, 51, have been dating since 1999 and are currently living together in Playa del Rey, a beach town near Laker headquarters in El Segundo, Calif.
Throughout the years their relationship has been through its valley's and peaks - both professionally and personally-and throughout the entirety of this public relationship the two have received nothing but love and support from Lakers owner Dr. Jerry Buss.
However, since being passed on by the Lakers for Mike D'Antoni to replace former coach Mike Brown, Buss has offered no public comments about the situation. Jackson, who was rumored to be prepared to make a return, was interviewed by general manager Mitch Kupchak and executive vice president Jim Buss.
Since then there's been rumors that the Brooklyn Nets, since firing coach Avery Johnson, have been interested in bringing Jackson on board as head coach. Buss has always publicly maintained she would have no problem with Jackson coaching another NBA team.
"I learned that from 2004 when he retired. A relationship isn't just about space; it's about emotion and heart and all those good things."
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