After more than ten years together former Lakers coach Phil Jackson and Lakers executive vp Jeanie Buss are finally set to wed. The Two first began dating in 1999 and live together in the beach town of Playa del Ray, a beach community that is located near the Lakers headquarters. Their romance began over a vodka gimlet after a long day of NBA meetings and was solidified the next day when he boarded the plane in the first class section and she explained that her reason for flying coach was that the Lakers did not need the added expense of her first class ticket.
Phil Jackson’s Career
Phil Jackson has had a career that anyone would envy. He began his career as a player by being drafted in the second round by the New York Knicks. After his playing career ended, Jackson remained in the league as a coach. Jackson was the head coach of the Chicago Bulls from 1989 until 1998. He then moved on to coach the Lakers from 2000 until 2010. Over the span of his career, he won 11 NBA championships. Five of his championships came with the Lakers with two titles coming as recently as 2009 and 2010 with Kobe Bryant and Pau Gasol. Having won two titles as a player, he holds the record for the most combined championships with 13.
The Ring
Jackson presented the ring over the Christmas holidays and the couple announced their engagement via twitter as she tweeted a picture of her ring. The ring appears to be an emerald cut diamond ring edged by two smaller emerald-cut diamonds. Of the ring, Buss says, “he finally gave me the ring I wanted.”
Even after the engagement announcement though, the speculation remains about Jackson’s role with the Lakers in future years