Phil Jackson could be on his way to another run with the Los Angeles Lakers.
ESPN reported on Monday night that Jackson, who coached the Los Angeles Lakers from 1999-2004 and earned three championship rings, is scheduled to meet with Kobe Bryant in Los Angeles later this week.
The meeting could be seen as a step to Jackson possibly returning to coach the Lakers.
Jackson joined the Lakers in June 1999, and coached them to their first championship in 12 years in his first season. Two more titles followed, giving Jackson nine to tie him with former Boston coach Red Auerbach for the most in NBA history.
The Lakers were eliminated in the second round of the playoffs by eventual champion San Antonio two seasons ago and reached the NBA final last June before losing to the Detroit Pistons.
In 14 seasons as a head coach, Jackson is 832-316 for a .725 winning percentage - best in NBA history. His 175 playoff wins are the most ever and his .717 post-season winning percentage is also tops.
Jackson, 58, coached the Michael Jordan-led Chicago Bulls to championships in 1992-94 and 1996-98. Jackson then took a year off before becoming coach of the Lakers. His teams in Chicago and Los Angeles had a 9-1 record in the NBA final.
Jackson wrote a tell-all book called "The Last Season" about the 2003-04 season in which he characterized Bryant as being difficult to coach. In the book, Jackson wrote that he asked Lakers general manager Mitch Kupchak to trade Bryant.
ESPN added that Jackson has also spoken to team owner Jerry Buss and plans to speak with him again soon.
Files from ESPN were used for this report.