New York Knicks president Phil Jackson and Los Angeles Lakers co-owner Jeanie Buss made headlines four years ago when they made the announcement that they were engaged. Now, they are once again a talking point due to the fact that they have now decided to end their engagement.
Most people believed that their decision to tie the know was a result of genuine love towards one another. However, there were still rumors that it was all because Jackson was angling for a move to the Los Angeles side he led to multiple championship years prior, ESPN reported.
NBA legend and current New York Knicks player Carmelo Anthony never once thought that this was the case with his team's president. While Phil Jackson was one of the Los Angeles Lakers' greatest ever head coaches, Anthony believed that he would not make the switch and stay loyal to his team. Sadly, now that Jackson and Buss's engagement is all over, this point has been proven at the expense of a genuine relationship.
Jackson and Buss wrote in a joint statement released to the public via Jackson's official Twitter account. In it they reveal that the distance of working in Los Angeles and New York respectively has put great strain on their relationship. They also state that their split was under mutual consent.
The split may have been amicable, but ending a 17-year relationship can take a toll out of even the strongest people. In fact, Jackson has not been seen with his team since he took a trip two weeks ago. He also has not been seen at his regular seat in the last three games, according to the New York Daily News.
Jackson only has two years remaining on his contract to serve as the Knicks' president. Despite this, he can already choose to opt out at the end of this season due to a clause on his current contract.
Watch some of Jackson's highlights from his playing days below: