Lakers' owner Jerry Buss wants Phil Jackson to coach the team for many years to come, but Jackson isn't ready to commit beyond this season.

"I'm just going one season at a time, really," Jackson said. "That's all there is to do in this situation."

Jackson is in the first year of a two-year, $23-million contract extension, but next season is optional.

Next season would be his 19th as a coach in the NBA, in addition to twelve seasons in the league as a power forward. The travel aspect of the job is starting to wear him down.

"Traveling is part of our job in this business," Jackson said. "You go out on the road . . . and that takes some effort and takes some energy. This conference is especially difficult for teams. When you're on the West Coast and you have to travel to New Orleans, Memphis, across the Mississippi and across two-thirds of the country and two time zones, it makes a big difference."