Jackson Passes on Honor

DENVER — Phil Jackson knows who should be coach of the year: not him.

“I shouldn’t be there,” he said Thursday. “There’s so many other guys that have done a great job here this year.”

He mentioned Mike D’Antoni of Phoenix and Avery Johnson of Dallas as coaches of teams that are “surprising people.”

He also said Detroit’s Flip Saunders and New Orleans’ Byron Scott should be considered.

Jackson has won nine championships in 14 NBA seasons but has won coach of the year only once, in 1996.

“I think it’s an honor that I would be ashamed to win” this season, he said, before lightening his tone. “I would be hesitant to accept it because I believe it’s a kiss of death.”

It is?

“Every guy that wins it is fired in another year or two,” he said.

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With less than two weeks to go in the regular season, the most-valuable-player award is equally hard to pin down, with Kobe Bryant certain to attract at least some votes.

“My first would be Kobe Bryant,” Lamar Odom said. “My second was Kobe Bryant too. I think he should win in a landslide.”

Bryant leads the league in scoring, but the Lakers’ place in the standings could hurt his chances. Other candidates, all from teams with better records, include Miami guard Dwyane Wade, Dallas forward Dirk Nowitzki, Clipper forward Elton Brand, Cleveland forward LeBron James and Phoenix guard Steve Nash, who won the award last season.

The Laker record will be a factor, Jackson acknowledged.

“It definitely will,” he said. “I think that that’s just a given.

“I don’t have to argue the case what kind of season he’s had. He’s made a case for himself to hold his own value this year, and people judge him on that.”

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TONIGHT

at Phoenix, 7:30, Ch. 9, ESPN

Site -- US Airways Center.

Radio -- 570; 1330.

Records -- Lakers 40-36; Suns 49-25.

Record vs. Suns -- 0-2.

Update -- The Suns, possible first-round playoff opponents of the Lakers, are 7-8 since March 9. Amare Stoudemire is out for the season after undergoing surgery Wednesday to remove debris and drain a cyst in his right knee. The Lakers are 0-6 against the Suns over the last two seasons.