After four long years, New York Knicks president Phil Jackson and Los Angeles Lakers president Jeanie Buss, the late Jerry Buss‘ daughter, have ended their engagement.
Jackson announced the news on Twitter citing “geographical distance” as the main reason for the split. Jeanie later followed with a tweet of her own.
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“Jeanie Buss @JeanieBuss: The love of my life is the Los Angeles Lakers. I love Phil & will always. It’s not fair to him or Lakers to not have my undivided attention”
Jackson and Buss began dating in 1999, the year in which Jackson began his tenure as Lakers head coach. Jackson, who won six titles with the Chicago Bulls prior to his joining the Lakers, won five championships with the franchise in 12 seasons.
Jackson and Buss would date for another two years following the end of his time with the Lakers before Jackson proposed in late 2012. Geography would come into play in their relationship in 2014, with Jackson accepting an offer to become president of the New York Knicks in the spring of that year. h/t heavy
Jackson and Buss managed to keep their relationship despite the fact that they’re jobs keep them on separate coasts, something that wasn’t easy as Buss discussed in a 2015 interview with USA TODAY.