It looks like Phil Jackson and Jeanie Buss are finally engaged after over 12 years of dating.
Buss, who is the Vice President of Business Operations for the Lakers, tweeted a photo Thursday of the large diamond ring Jackson gave her.
“Twitter family – Phil finally gave me that ring I wanted!” she tweeted.
Jackson, 67, and Buss, 51, began dating shortly after Phil became head coach of the Lakers in 1999 (a Los Angeles Daily News article dated Nov. 14, 2000 identifies Buss as Jackson’s girlfriend). The couple remained together throughout Jackson’s two head coaching stints with the team.
Jackson frequently would call Buss his “companion” when asked about their relationship. After being divorced twice, there were no signs he planned to marry again. It looks like he has finally changed his mind.
What adds intrigue to the apparent engagement is that Jackson’s proposal comes shortly after the Lakers chose to hire Mike D’Antoni instead of him as their head coach two months ago. Whatever feelings Jackson held toward the organization clearly did not stop him from proposing. Congratulations to the two.
Photo credit: Twitter/Jeanie Buss
