http://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/25519008/phil-jackson-visits-los-angeles-lakers-practice-facility

Phil Jackson makes surprise visit to Lakers' practice facility
4:29 PM CT
Ohm Youngmisuk
ESPN Staff Writer

EL SEGUNDO, Calif. -- Phil Jackson made a surprise visit to the Los Angeles Lakers' practice facility Wednesday.

It was the first time Jackson has been seen by the media at the facility over the past two seasons. The team said the former head coach just stopped by.

Lakers coach Luke Walton, who has kept in touch with Jackson and at times solicits advice from his mentor, said he didn't know his former coach was at the facility until media members pointed at Jackson, who was seated in a balcony above the court.

"I have not talked to Phil today, no, but if that's him, I'll head upstairs," Walton said. "... Even the one year I semi-retired, Phil's someone I like to stay in constant communication with."

Jackson still has several ties to the organization. Lakers controlling owner and governor Jeanie Buss posted a photo of her having dinner with Jackson, Kurt Rambis and his wife, Linda, in Manhattan Beach in early November.

Rambis rejoined the organization in September as a senior basketball adviser to Magic Johnson, president of basketball operations.

It was not known whether Jackson had any interaction with LeBron James.

Jackson once used the word "posse" when talking about James and his business partners in a 2016 interview with ESPN. In response, James said he and his partners were offended and disappointed as African-Americans by the use of the word to describe them.