For the past few days, Phil Jackson was interested in the possibility of joining the Magic’s front office.

Then, late Thursday afternoon, Jackson bowed out.

Magic CEO Alex Martins was formally presented on Wednesday with a scenario involving Jackson by Sam Vincent, who played for the Magic and Jackson.

“It drew some interest from Phil,” Vincent said. “But in the end, Phil decided to go with another opportunity.”

Jackson is apparently headed back to the NBA in some capacity, but he pulled out here before Martins had a chance to run it by owner Rich DeVos. Martins learned of Jackson’s exit Thursday, but would not comment.

“Not because of this specific situation, but because I have been consistent during the search that I won’t comment on specific candidates,” Martins said in an e-mail. “I stand by my statement that we will put a premium on searching for Championship experience in the positions within in our search.”

Vincent said Jackson gave him the impression that he doesn’t want to coach anymore. But the Magic scenario would have involved Jackson as either the team president/ general manager or in a consulting role — sort of like Pat Riley looking down from his office at Erik Spoelstra in Miami.

via Brian Schmitz of the Orlando Sentinel