Jackson passes Auerbach with 10th title

kabc

By ABC7

Monday, June 15, 2009

ORLANDO, Fla. Jackson, the chilled-out, bow-legged Zen Master who won six league titles in the 1990s with Michael Jordan in Chicago, now has won his fourth with the Los Angeles Lakers and broke a tie with legendary Boston coach Red Auerbach as the winningest coach in finals history.

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Jackson's record-breaking triumph came in a relatively easy 99-86 Lakers victory over Orlando, a team that had beaten L.A. twice in the regular season but fell in five games in the NBA Finals.

Jackson, wearing a gold baseballl cap with the Roman numeral 10 on it, said he would emulate the late Celtics coach, who was legendary for smoking a victory cigar after games.

Jackson says he would "smoke the cigar tonight in memory of Red. He was a great guy."

Orlando coach Stan Van Gundy says Jackson is the greatest coach in NBA history. Van Gundy called Jackson's 10 titles an "incomprehensible" achievement, adding: "The guy wins all the time."