Sooner or later, the Basketball Hall of Fame will open its doors of membership to coach Phil Jackson.
Toward that end, the Los Angeles Lakers got the ball rolling Tuesday, nominating the nine-time NBA champion and winner of 893 games with the Lakers and Chicago Bulls.
"I was made aware of it," Jackson said Tuesday, "and yet still have some physical issues that I still have to think about before I really embrace that possibility. But it's an honor to be thought about."
The Hall will announce its 24 finalists for the Class of 2007 on Feb. 16, during NBA All-Star Weekend in Las Vegas. The finalists will be voted on by the 24-member honors committee; 18 votes are needed for induction.
To be enshrined while still active, Jackson had to have coached for 25 years. He's in his 16th NBA season but also coached the CBA's Albany Patroons from 1982-87, winning the 1984 championship, and worked as an assistant for the New Jersey Nets for four seasons.
The newest Hall class is announced at the Final Four in Atlanta.