LOS ANGELES, 20 June 2004 — Moments after being stunned by the Detroit Pistons in the NBA Finals on Tuesday, Phil Jackson admitted the chances of him returning were slim. On Friday, he made it official, resigning as head coach of the Los Angeles Lakers.

“Things have to end and this is the right time for me,” an upbeat Jackson said. “The Lakers will go on so will Phil Jackson.”

While Jackson will not be back, the Lakers’ one-two punch of superstars Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O’Neal may follow as the dynasty, which was denied a fourth championship in the last five years, begins to get dismantled.

As expected, Bryant officially opted out of his contract and became an unrestricted free agent who will test the free agent market this summer.

That of course, unless he is found guilty and convicted in his sexual assault case in Eagle, Colorado. As Bryant passed reporters following his exit interview with the team, he said, “Thanks for everything, have a good summer.”

The Lakers have every intention of trying to keep Bryant in the fold, offering him maximum $140 million over seven years, according to team general manager Mitch Kupchak. O’Neal became angered when he heard Kupchak’s comments of making Bryant the priority. He blew off the exit interview and asked for a trade. Kupchak said he would try to accommodate O’Neal’s demands.

Though O’Neal is under contract for the next two seasons, the league’s most dominant big man can opt out following the 2004-04 campaign.

Jackson leaves a successful 14-year coaching career with a record of 832-316 for a. 725 winning percentage. He has won a record-tying nine NBA coaching championships (six with the Michael Jordan led Chicago Bulls and three with the Lakers) tying him with legendary Boston Celtics coach Red Auerbach.

However, after an afternoon meeting with Lakers owner Jerry Buss, the 58-year-old Jackson decided five years was enough.

“The experience of the past five years has been great,” Jackson said in a statement. “Three rings and a fourth opportunity makes this a bittersweet ending, but it’s time to pause and reflect. I’m appreciative of all the Lakers, the organization, the fans and Dr. Buss.”

Among names surfacing as possible successors include former Houston Rockets coach Rudy Tomjanovich, and former Seattle SuperSonics and Milwaukee Bucks coach George Karl.

Besides Jackson, and perhaps the departure of Bryant and O’Neal, more house cleaning could take place in a matter of days.

Karl Malone has already opted out of his contract, but the sure shot Future Hall of Famer hopes to return to the Lakers if healthy. Guards Gary Payton and Derek Fisher were given Wednesday and Thursday deadlines, respectively, to decide if they would exercise their options in the free agent market as well.

“I don’t want to make a decision to please everybody because it has to be done by a certain date,” said Fisher, who was drafted by the Lakers in 1996. “Basically this decision determines what I hope will be the finish of my career on this team or whether I will be forced to join another team.”