Given the chance to return to Kobe and the Lakers in Los Angeles, eight time championship coach Phil Jackson has decided to turn down the opportunity and remain in Australia on vacation the New York Daily News is reporting. As a result assistant Frank Hamblen has been installed as the new head coach of the Lakers on an interim basis.

Jackson told the Los Angeles Times in yesterday's editions that he was approached about returning to the city where he started his five-year tenure with three consecutive titles, and that he was "mulling that over in my mind." But in the end, he saw the Lakers as substantially worse off than the team he left last June after its loss to Detroit in the Finals.

Kobe Bryant reportedly gave his blessing to the Lakers to try to save their season by luring Jackson out of retirement. But persons familiar with Jackson's thinking said that he was still leery of working with Bryant, his chief nemesis, in addition to having reservations about taking over what is essentially a .500 team devoid of a second superstar. However, the Lakers will consider rehiring him this spring.

Rudy Tomjanvich made his decision official on Wednesday after revealing to GM Mitch Kupchak that he needed to resign because he was worn down, physically and mentally, by the pressures of the job.

"This is all about me and how I'm wired," said Tomjanovich. "I have dealt with all kinds of stress and tough situations. I went from this energetic, pumped-up guy, to all of a sudden being sapped of a lot of energy. Why this happened now, and why my body couldn't take it now, I don't have the answer."

Tomjanovich, who was in the first year of a five-year, $30 million deal, will stay on in a consultant role, which will primarily entail scouting.

Both the Lakers and the New York Knicks, two of the major NBA markets, will now be in direct competition for a new head coach this offseason, with Detroit's Larry Brown already linked to both jobs despite having 3 1/2 seasons left on his contract.