The (AP) reports: Utah Jazz assistant Phil Johnson said Wednesday he has withdrawn as a candidate for the head coaching job with the Denver Nuggets.

"Although the Nuggets never offered me the job, the longer the process took, the easier it was for me to make the decision to remain with the Jazz," he said. "I was never sure that I would leave, even if the offer would have been extended."

Johnson reportedly was one of two finalists in Denver, along with Dallas assistant and former Lakers coach Del Harris.

For the past 14 seasons, Johnson has been the top assistant to Utah coach Jerry Sloan. He was the NBA's coach of the year in 1974-75, leading the Kansas City-Omaha Kings to a 44-38 record and second place in the Midwest Division. He coached the Kings from 1973-78 and the Kansas City-Sacramento Kings from 1984-87.

RealGM Note: This could open the door for Harris to get the Nuggets job. Usually when a canadiate for a Head coaching job withdraws, it means that he wasn't going to get the job. Then again, it has been said the Del Harris really likes being an assistant in Dallas and even if he were to think about leaving, Mark Cuban might bump up his salary again to convince him to stay. Stay tuned to Wiretap for more on the Nuggets Head Coaching situation.