Coach K swears off the Lakers

Remove this name from the list of potential Lakers coaches in waiting:

Mike Krzyzewski.

The Duke coach said at his annual summer meeting with reporters that he would not be the coach of the Lakers.

Not next year if Lakers Coach Phil Jackson were to retire.

Not ever.

Krzyzewski, who was coach of the U.S. men's team that won gold at the Beijing Olympics, said he wouldn't leave Duke "until I leave coaching." The coach made about $3.6 million from Duke last year -- a $1.4 million raise from the previous year.

Kobe Bryant has talked often about how much he admires the Blue Devils' coach and the Lakers took a run at Krzyzewski at least once before, in 2004.

Krzyzewski's pronouncement, if he stays with it, is good news for hopefuls such as Kurt Rambis, Brian Shaw and Byron Scott.

-- Mike Hiserman

Photo: USA's head coach Mike Krzyzewski kisses the crowd after his team defeated Spain and won the gold medal at the 2008 Beijing Olympics. Photo credit: Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times.

What recession? Kobe's game-worn Finals jersey goes for $35k

Apparently some memorabilia collectors are unaffected by the economic recession.

A game-used jersey worn by Kobe Bryant in Game 1 of the NBA Finals was auctioned off today for over $35,000.

The auction -- through a partnership between the NBA and MeiGray Group Game-Worn Jersey Authentication Program -- ended Thursday at 6:22 p.m. after being available on the league's auction site since June 4.

Bryant's jersey started at $1,000 and finished 32 bids later at $35,270.90. The minimum bid increment was $20.

Orlando Magic forward Hedo Turkoglu's jersey, worn only in the first half of Game 1, sold for $1,770.

The buyer, whose screen name on the site is "jtnbafan," purchased both jerseys.

Imagine how much more it would have gone for had the jerseys been signed.

A much more attainable item: Phil Jackson's X-cap worn after Game 5 in Orlando and during the championship parade Wednesday. The cap is on sale for $25 (plus shipping and handling). Proceeds go to benefit the American Indian College Fund.

--Mario Aguirre

Ted Green: No rain on this parade

It was warm and sweet, loud and proud, and when the celebration ended no one wanted to go home. Not today and maybe not til next June or even the June after that.

In a parade and victory celebration that was better, more real, more heartfelt and less pretentious and oafish than previous championship parties, on a warm, wonderful Wednesday, the Lakers unified our city as only they can, bringing a sense of community and commonality to our diverse and disparate, sprawling metropolis.

This was so much better than real sports, dominated today by power, money and a lot of poor decision-making. Plus we didn't have to suffer through Pat Riley bragging, Shaquille O'Neal rapping or Mark Madsen dancing. Instead, Pau spoke real Castillian Spanish with elegance and class.

And those who questioned whether it was right or prudent to even hold a parade in today's difficult economic climate certainly have every right to a take-two do-over today. It was right and it was also prudent.

Fact is, there will be a lot written and said about how our city needed this parade and the good, happy, optimistic vibes the Lakers brought to it. Needed is not the right word. In real life, our city needs more jobs, better teachers and more money for schools a lot more than it needs 15 tall multimillionaires dancing in a circle to "I Love L.A." But the point is, the party didn't cost the city one red penny and the entire morning and afternoon of purple and gold couldn't have struck a more spot-on note to brighten a city that can use a little cheering up, a city that wants only to feel a little better about itself.

Lakers parade: The Lakers and Phil Jackson

From the front lines of the Lakers' victory party in the Coliseum:

As soon as the crowds saw Lakers Coach Phil Jackson being driven to the stage in his golf court, fans let out a loud cheer. When Jackson heard this, he waved his hand.

All that did was incite the fans to cheer even louder. Jackson smiled and continued to wave.

-- Broderick Turner

Los Angeles Lakers head coach Phil Jackson, left, speaks as Kobe Bryant looks on during the Lakers' NBA championship victory ceremony at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum in Los Angeles on Wednesday, June 17, 2009. (AP Photo/Matt Sayles)

Follow the Lakers tonight on LATimes.com

Can the Lakers defense hold Orlando to a respectable shooting percentage rather than the otherworldly 62.5% the Magic shot in its Game 3 victory Tuesday night in Orlando?

Is Kobe Bryant out of gas?

Is Stan Van Gundy actually outcoaching Phil Jackson?

Follow Game 4 action from Orlando tonight on LATimes.com. Lisa Dillman will be twittering and Brian Kamenetzky will be blogging and chatting from courtside.

Also, Broderick Turner will be filing pregame and quarter-by-quarter updates. Bill Plaschke, T.J. Simers, Mike Bresnahan, the Orlando Sentinel sports staff and NBA TV analyst Kenny Smith will be lending perspective after the game.

-- Randy Harvey

Suns' Steve Nash is David Letterman's NBA Finals correspondent

When you don't make the NBA playoffs, you have a lot of time on your hands.

Just ask Shaq, who spent all day Sunday on Twitter before Game 2 of the NBA Finals featuring the Los Angeles Lakers and Orlando Magic. Now Phoenix Suns guard Steve Nash -- and Shaq's teammate -- will cover Game 3 tonight for the Late Show with David Letterman. Nash's report will air on Thursday's show.

Maybe Nash will get a dig on Lakers Coach Phil Jackson, who told reporters Sunday that he's turned down offers at one point to coach the U.S. and Canadian Olympic basketball teams.

"I was asked by the Canadians if I'd like to coach their Olympic team," Jackson said, without divulging exactly when that offer was made. "Steve Nash wasn't a mature enough player yet, so I had to turn that one down."

If Nash's appearance with Clippers guard Baron Davis in a video spoofing Step Brothers is of any indication, we should be in for a real treat on Thursday. For any who have missed out, enjoy the video below.

--Mark Medina

Phil Jackson fined by NBA

The NBA today fined Lakers Coach Phil Jackson $25,000 for his comments about the officiating in Monday's Game 4 loss to the Nuggets in Denver.

Jackson complained that the referees had let the game get out of hand; the Nuggets shot 49 free throws compared with the Lakers' 35. "We want the game to be fair and evenly played," Jackson said.

Jackson also complained about Denver guard Dahntay Jones' tripping Kobe Bryant: "Just unacceptable defense, tripping guys and playing unsportsmanlike basketball," Jackson said on Monday.

The NBA today assessed Jones a flagrant foul, penalty one, for the trip on Bryant.

The Lakers were also fined $25,000 by the NBA for Jackson's comments.

The Lakers-Nuggets series is tied at two wins apiece; Game 5 is Wednesday night at Staples Center.

-- Barry Stavro

Photo: Lakers Coach Phil Jackson argues with an NBA official during the Lakers' Game 4 loss to the Denver Nuggets on Monday. Credit: Rick Giase / EPA

Derek Fisher not getting job done for Lakers

The other Forum blog, Forum Blue & Gold, offers a number of reasons for the Lakers' loss Thursday night to Denver. Still, it's clear Derek Fisher is taking most of the heat:

"But Phil Jackson trusts Fisher because they have a history. Because he is stable. Because he has hit big shots in the past. All the reasons that we Lakers fans love Fisher. But at some point in these playoffs that trust has to bend to the new reality that Fisher is not getting the job done. He is a defensive liability. He is not hitting his shots. He is just not the same player."

-- Randy Harvey

Photo: Lakers guard Derek Fisher is drawing the ire of fans. Credit: Pat Sullivan/AP Photo.

Ted Green: Some Game 2 advice for the Lakers

In 100 different ways at their practice palace in El Segundo today, the Lakers were asked: What do you have to do in Game 2 to turn it around against the Rockets?

Here are a few suggestions:

Andrew Bynum: Put down the Playboy Bunny. Tell Yao if Barkley won't eat the fish while it's still alive, you will. Also, don't commit two fouls 10 seconds after lineup introductions. Foul the guy parking your Bentley, foul the backstage doorman, foul Kareem in pregame footwork drills all you like, but when Yao turns to shoot, the least you can do for $52 million is to raise those condor wings you call your arms straight into the air. And take a few acting lessons so you at least LOOK like you care. After all, these ARE the playoffs.

Ted Green: For Lakers, it's only boredom

At long last, I have finally figured out what's wrong with the Lakers.

Nothing. At least nothing that June won't cure. Those little stretches when they lack focus? Those blocks of minutes in games when their minds turn to space dust? The occasional nights when they appear disinterested and disengaged until Kobe rescues them at the end?

This, friends, is called boredom.

The Lakers are so bored right now, they ought to get rid of those folding chairs on their bench and replace them with leather recliners. I bet Barry Bonds can give them a good store reference.

They're so bored, when Pau talks to Kobe on the bench, they're not discussing how to defend the pick-and-roll. Pau is telling him about a delicious paella he makes.

In fact, here's how bored they are: I think I saw a Laker actually reading one of the books Phil gave him.

While comparing the current edition of the Lake Show to prodigal music geniuses might be a stretch, asking the Lakers to be profoundly interested in Golden State, the Clippers and a dozen other teams in the NBA is like asking Mozart or Beethoven to show boisterous enthusiasm for playing "Chopsticks."

It's a good thing Kobe's been smiling so much lately, or is that just a yawn with a lot of teeth?

So the next time they're up 15 and scoring at will on Dallas, then you blink and they're down six, and you wonder what the heck is going on in the name of all that is holy about Zen, I suggest you remember this:

There is nothing wrong with the Lakers that being up 2-1 with a Game 4 on the road in San Antonio in the West finals won't cure.

LeBron and the Cavs in the Finals?

Here's a wild guess they DO get up for that.

-- Ted Green

Ted Green formerly covered the Lakers for the L.A. Times. He is currently Senior Sports Producer for KTLA Prime News.

Photo: Derek Fisher, left, Kobe Bryant and Lamar Odom talk on the bench during a blowout win over the Washington Wizards in January. Credit: Alex Gallardo / Los Angeles Times