INSCRIBED BY PHIL JACKSON

JACKSON, Phil. The Last Season. A Team in Search of Its Soul. New York: Penguin, 2004. Octavo, original black and purple paper boards, original dust jacket. $275.

First edition of coach Phil Jackson's account of the Lakers' tumultuous 2004-2004 season, inscribed by him on the half title: "To Les / Best Wishes / Phil Jackson / July 1, '15."

"In The Last Season, Jackson tells the full inside story of the season that proved to be the final ride of this great Lakers dynasty. From its beginnings in the off-season—with the signing of the future Hall-of-Famers Karl Malone and Gary Payton and the enormous expectations it created and the bombshell news of the felony sexual assault charges against Kobe Bryant, one of the league's marquee superstars—Jackson describes the many challenges that arose during this turbulent season." After the Lakers' unexpected loss to Detroit in the NBA finals that year, the team announced that Jackson would be leaving; after one disappointing season without him, Jackson returned to coach them for another six seasons and two more championships in the NBA finals. Written with co-author Michael Arkush. Illustrated with 16 pages of black-and-white photographs.

A fine signed copy.