Phil Jackson engaged

Phil Jackson engaged

Phil Jackson engaged,  It's wedding bells for former (and future?) NBA coach Phil Jackson and Jeanie Buss. Buss, an executive vice president for the Los Angeles Lakers, confirmed on her Twitter account that her longtime beau finally popped the question. As proof, she showed off the bling.

"Phil finally gave me that ring I wanted!" Buss, 51, wrote.

The two began dating in 1999 while Jackson, 67, was coaching the Lakers, who are owned by Buss' father, Jerry. Jeanie Buss told ESPN.com on Thursday that she received the ring at Christmas and she's "beyond happy."

A wedding date has not been announced.

It's not clear how the engagement would change the likelihood of Jackson returning to coaching. He was in the running to return to the Lakers earlier this season after the team fired Mike Brown. LA instead hired Mike D'Antoni.

Jackson recently was floated as a candidate to take over the Brooklyn Nets after Avery Johnson was fired. Recent reports say the Nets may not hire a full-time coach until after the end of the season.

Jackson won 11 NBA titles with the Lakers and Chicago Bulls.