Ask and you shall receive.

That’s become the theme behind Phil Jackson’s week-long media tour promoting his book, “Eleven Rings.”

Jackson has answered countless times that he’s not interested in coaching and wants a front office role. He hasn’t shied away from declaring Michael Jordan better than Kobe Bryant, though Jackson offered effusive praise for both stars. Jackson has still tweaked the Lakers for hiring Mike D’Antoni over him.

So it should hardly be surprising hearing Jackson’s take on which player he’d choose of any NBA era to start a team.

“In my estimation, the guy that has to be there would be Bill Russell. He has won 11 championships as a player,” Jackson told Time magazine. “I think that’s really the idea of what excellence is, when you win championships.”

Russell’s greatness goes beyond his championships, of course. He was considered one of the NBA’s best defenders. Russell did so while exhibiting toughness to his opponents and encouragement to his teammates.

But what if Jackson had to choose between Jordan and Bryant?

“I would flip a coin and whichever one came up heads or tails, I’d take that person,” Jackson said. “They were that good.”

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Follow L.A. Daily News Lakers beat writer Mark Medina on Twitter. E-mail him at mark.medina@dailynews.com

Even if the Lakers hadn’t flamed out in the first round against the San Antonio Spurs, Kobe Bryant wouldn’t have provided any postseason theatrics. Such hope quickly evaporated when he suffered a season-ending torn left Achilles’ tendon in the waning minutes of the Lakers’ win April 12 over the Golden State Warriors.

But that’s not preventing the NBA from using Bryant in their NBA Finals 2013 “BIG” campaign. After all, Bryant has proven enough to come through in big playoff moments, good enough for five NBA rings and two Finals MVPS.

The above video shows a young Bryant sporting No. 8 driving and dunking with unyielding athleticism and aggressiveness in the Lakers’ four-game sweep over the New Jersey Nets in the 2002 NBA Finals. But here’s the scary part: at age 34 Bryant provided similar theatrics this year in his 17th NBA season.

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Follow L.A. Daily News Lakers beat writer Mark Medina on Twitter. E-mail him at mark.medina@dailynews.com

This should’ve marked the time when the Lakers are still in the playoff hunt. Instead, significant injuries, a swift coaching change and inconsistent chemistry resulted in the Lakers falling in a four-game first-round sweep to the San Antonio Spurs. And that leaves Lakers fans with way too much time wondering how this offseason will shape up. So to tackle some questions, I dove into some e-mails and tweets in what will be the first edition of the Lakers’ mailbag.

According to you, how high (%) is the chance Lakers trade Gasol? Do you think is a good idea? Financially and on the court?
I’ve read that Pau Gasol’s value is a the highest @ the draft? Why is that? I was wondering if there are any chances Dwight Howard makes his decision before July 1? – Louis Vanooteghem, Brussels, Belgium, Europe

Louis, I hope you didn’t pay too much on your satellite cable bill to watch the Lakers play god awful basketball countless miles away. Anyway, sorry about dashing your hopes. But there’s no way Howard makes his decision before July 1st. He’s made it pretty clear he wants to test free agency.  A person familiar with Howard’s thought process said he’s currently considering the Lakers, Dallas Mavericks, Houston Rockets, Atlanta Hawks and Golden State Warriors, though that is subject to change. Don’t expect Gasol to be traded before or during the NBA Draft. The Lakers aren’t going to do so when there’s the chance Howard might leave them.
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Former Laker Flynn Robinson died on Thursday at age 72 after fighting multiple myeloma, a form of cancer.

Robinson played one season with the Lakers, but it’s one the organization holds in high esteem. He was part of the Lakers’ 171-72 team, which won their first NBA Championship in Los Angeles and compiled a league-record 33-game winning streak. Robinson also earned the nickname “Mr. Instant Point” given by the late Lakers announcer Chick Hearn after leading the Lakers’ reserves in scoring (9.9 points per game.)

“We are very sad to hear of the passing of Flynn Robinson,” Lakers executive vice president of business operations Jeanie Buss said in a statement. “Flynn played an important role on the 1971-72 Lakers team that brought Los Angeles its first NBA championship and won what is still an NBA-record 33 consecutive games. Lakers fans might remember him as ‘Mr. Instant Point,’ a nickname given to him by the great Chick Hearn, a nickname that was well-earned as Flynn led the reserves in scoring that season, averaging 10 points in 16 minutes off the bench. He was a proud part of our Lakers heritage, participating in numerous reunions and special events over the years, and he will be missed. Our thoughts and prayers go out to his family at this time.”

Robinson played six games in the 1972-73 season with the Lakers before getting traded to the Washington Bullets. Robinson averaged 14 points and three assists over seven NBA seasons and earned an All-Star bid in 1970 when he was with the Milwaukee Bucks.

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Follow L.A. Daily News Lakers beat writer Mark Medina on Twitter. E-mail him at mark.medina@dailynews.com

Phil Jackson has said it time and time again.

“I’m not interested in coaching.”

That’s why he initially retired following the Lakers’ 2010-11 season. Even if the Lakers ultimately passed him up for the job this past season, Jackson said he was still mulling over whether he wanted to take over for the 2012-13 campaign. He’s shot down numerous coaching openings, including the Brooklyn Nets and the Clippers.

As he’s embarked on a media tour to promote his newly released memoir, “Eleven Rings,” Jackson has stressed time and time again he’s only seeking a front office role in some capacity. But in Jackson’s appearance Wednesday night on Comedy Central’s “The Daily Show,” host Jon Stewart openly didn’t believe the Zen Master’s claim.

“You’re saying to me, ‘I’m not interested in coaching. But your mustache says, ‘Get me on the court,” Stewart said jokingly. “I don’t believe it!”
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Even with everything around him self-destructing, the Lakers could usually rely on one certain player.

Kobe Bryant.

He willed his team to win games it otherwise wouldn’t have won. Bryant’s fiery intensity may have frustrated some players, notably Dwight Howard, but it ensured they kept a sharp edge as they scrapped for playoff contention. Even with Father Time knocking on the door, Bryant threw a few good jabs at it in the form of endless dunks, jumpers and passes.

That’s why it’s hardly surprising that Bryant was named to the All-NBA’s First Team for the 11th time in his career and eighth consecutive season, joining the likes of Miami’s LeBron James, Oklahoma City’s Kevin Durant, San Antonio’s Tim Duncan, and the Clippers’ Chris Paul. By averaging 27.9 points on 46.3 percent shooting and six assists in his 17th NBA season, Bryant ties Karl Malone for the most All-NBA First team selections. Bryant had previously been tired with Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Elgin Baylor, Bob Cousy, Michael Jordan, Bob Pettit and Jerry West.
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Below is a Q&A with Lakers general manager Mitch Kupchak, who talked with this newspaper about Dwight Howard, his free agency and his relationship with coach Mike D’Antoni

Is it true, as ESPN Los Angeles reported, that Dwight Howard in his separate interview after his formal exit interview that he lamented frustrations about Mike D’Antoni, specifically about how he felt marginalized on the team?

“Criticism of a coach did not come up. Our coach did not come up. In terms of the way the season went and our talent, group and players and how they think in general, I would venture to say most of our players felt this was a frustrating season and that they didn’t get to show their talents as much as they would have liked to.

Some of that had to do with the coaching change because of one coach to another, no training camp and that all whole thing. Some of it had to do with injuries and some of it had to do with Mike making adjustments as the season went on so in general I would answer that question as to say I’m talking about Pau, Steve Nash and everybody felt the season didn’t go the way they wanted to. I think in general they all felt that there are ways to utilize their talent better going forward. That would include Dwight in that group.

What do you make of that feedback you were given?

There’s a lot to take from the season. Put aside the injury thing. We can’t really completely get off of. That had so much to do with the season. But I would say a season that ended with Kobe’s injury, we didn’t really have a chance to go much further at that point anyway.

But from the moment that Mike got here and assessing the talent on the team, he was searching and making changes and being flexible and learning the talent. I would say the same goes with the players on the team. They were getting a feel for what Mike wanted to see. It was a season of adjustments and once again it’s hard to go through a season with no training camp and the injuries we had. I don’t want to say it was a learning experience. That doesn’t fly. It really doesn’t. The bottom line is we got knocked out in the first round. All that stuff aside, that’s the bottom line.

How would you characterize Dwight’s relationship with Mike?

“I don’t want to start nitpicking. There are 13 guys on a team. The eight guys who don’t start don’t like the coach and the five who do start, there are usually two or three that aren’t happy either for one reason or another. I would venture to say at one point during the season for every player, they have a problem with the coach.

But being around as long I’ve been around, it doesn’t bother me when I hear at some point a player didn’t see eye to eye with a coach. Players don’t have to like coaches. They just have to play hard. In L.A., our coaches get evaluated on wins and losses and not whether our players like them or don’t like them. It doesn’t matter.”
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Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski will remain as head coach for the U.S. Men’s Olympic team. But D’Antoni likely won’t stay as an assistant, according to a league source, because he wants to give full focus to the Lakers. D’Antoni served as an assistant under Krzyzewski in both the 2008 and 2012 Olympics.

“He’s a great guy and we have fun,” said D’Antoni in February about Krzyzewski. “Great coach. It’s exciting to represent your country and do something that’s fun to do and be a part of what’s happening the last eight years and being around the best players in the world. It’s great. There’s no negatives.”

D’Antoni has two years worth $8 million left remaining on his contract with the Lakers. Despite the Lakers’ first-round sweep to the San Antonio Spurs, Lakers general manager Mitch Kupchak has said D’Antoni will return next season.

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Follow L.A. Daily News Lakers beat writer Mark Medina on Twitter. E-mail him at mark.medina@dailynews.com

The Phoenix Suns recently asked and received permission from the Lakers to talk with assistant coach Steve Clifford about their vacant head-coaching position, according to Lakers spokesman John Black.

According to league sources, Clifford also interviewed with the Charlotte Bobcats on Tuesday and with the Milwaukee Bucks last Monday for their respective head-coaching spots. No offers were made and no follow-up interviews have been immediately scheduled.

Former Lakers coach Mike Brown hired Clifford, and was one of five assistants retained when D’Antoni took over following a 1-4 start. Clifford first started out in the NBA ranks as an advance scout for the New York Knicks (2000-01) before moving up as an assistant coach (2001-03) under Don Nelson. He then worked as an assistant for Jeff Van Gundy with the Houston Rockets (2003-2007) and for Stan Van Gundy with the Orlando Magic (2007-2012).

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Follow L.A. Daily News Lakers beat writer Mark Medina on Twitter. E-mail him at mark.medina@dailynews.com

Lakers player development coach Phil Handy is expected to join Mike Brown’s coaching staff with the Cleveland Cavaliers, according to league sources.

Handy hasn’t signed a contract yet, but he reached what a league source called a “verbal agreement” to become one of Brown’s assistants.

Brown hired Handy as his player development coach last year his first season as the Lakers’ head coach. Since then, Handy has developed a strong reputation among the Lakers’ players for both his engaging on-court workouts and infinite willingness to work with them at all hours of the day. Handy will oversee player development with the Cavaliers, but will also have more added responsibility than he did with the Lakers.
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