“Pretty Sure If Ime Was a Laker…”: Lakers Legend Horry Explains Jeanie Buss-Phil Jackson Relationship Amidst Ime Udoka Workplace Scandal

Ime Udoka, the coach of the Boston Celtics, just received a season-long suspension for having a relationship with a female club employee. However, Phil Jackson was engaged to Jeanie Buss for a number of years before they became connected, so this is not the first time a prominent head coach has had a relationship with a club employee.

Phil Jackson and Jeanie Buss are well-known to NBA fans due to their success with the Lakers. However, basketball fans are familiar with them both because of their prominent union, which lasted over 17 years. More than five years have passed since Jackson and Buss ended their relationship.

Boston Celtics Coach Ime Udoka Nia Long

Fans reportedly questioned why other coaches weren’t held to the same standard after hearing the news. A few spectators questioned former Los Angeles Lakers player Robert Horry as to why former Lakers coach Phil Jackson was permitted to date, Jeanie Buss.

ALSO READ: Celtics Open Camp: Questions On Ime Udoka’s Suspension

Robert Horry explains the difference between Ime Udoka scandal and Buss-Jackson relationship

“I’ve had so many people come up to me and be like ‘Well, why Phil didn’t get kicked off the team when he was dating Jeanie Buss?’ I’m like ‘Because he was dating Jeanie Buss,’” Horry said on his “Big Shot Bob” Podcast.

“That may not be against their team policy. I’m pretty sure if Ime was a Laker and did what he did, that still would have been against team policy… But dating somebody and disclosing that, that’s not against team policy.”

Buss and Jackson began dating soon after they first met in 1999. Four years after being engaged in 2013, they decided to break it up. From 1999 to 2004 and again from 2005 to 2011, Jackson served as the Lakers head coach.

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