LOS ANGELES, July 9 (UPI) -- After failing to lure Mike Krzyzewski from the collegiate ranks, the Los Angeles Lakers have succeeded in getting Rudy Tomjanovich back to the bench.
Tomjanovich, who guided the Houston Rockets to a pair of NBA titles, agreed Friday to coach the Lakers.
The Lakers officially will name Tomjanovich coach at a news conference Saturday.
Tomjanovich, 55, succeeds Phil Jackson, who led the Lakers to three titles in five years. After losing to the Detroit Pistons in the NBA Finals, the Lakers announced on June 18 that Jackson would not return.
Out of coaching since leaving the Rockets in May 2003 -- two months after being diagnosed with bladder cancer -- Tomjanovich inherits a team in turmoil.
Superstar center Shaquille O'Neal has demanded a trade and Kobe Bryant is an unrestricted free agent facing a sexual assault trial in Colorado. Karl Malone and Derek Fisher also are free agents.
While Tomjanovich was one of the first candidates interested, the Lakers also targeted Krzyzewski, who has won three national titles at Duke. But Krzyzewski announced Monday he would remain with the Blue Devils.
