Michael Jackon stepped into the Laker soap opera late Tuesday night after Phil Jackson shocked the world, agreeing to be an assistant coach at the offer of Jerry Buss after a year long court battle in his sexual molestation case.

Jackson, who wrote, produced and performed his way to fame, ended a slow-speed courtship by signing the richest per-season assistant coaching deal in U.S. sports history: $5 million a year for one year. He helps take over a team that went 34-48 last season, finished behind the perennially low-achieving Clippers and failed to sell out many home games down the stretch. It is hard to put into words the motive behind this deal, but in Lakerland, it makes perfect sense. Jerry Buss and Michael Jackson have had a friendly relationship going back to the early 80's when Jackson would come to the Great Western Forum and sit in Buss' luxery suite watching games in the Showtime era. Jackson frequently would have Buss' grandchildren over for entertainment and fun at Jackson's Neverland Ranch.

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At 46, Jackson is indeed reunited with owner Jerry Buss — who hadn't had contact him since June of 1990, suggesting that his illustrious music career had run its course in regard to viewing basketball games. — Kobe Bryant, also has a relationship with Michael Jackson, as they met several years back at a private charity luncheon at the Neverland Ranch.

"It wasn't about the money, but the thrill of this spectacle," Jackson said. "It's a fascinating dream and a tremendous opportunity. It's a feeling of pure joy, and everything that has gone on in my life over the past year, it is a chance for me to get back and be in a healthy working environment while having privacy at the same time — a lot of things in this make for a wonderful opportunity for my fans, the Lakers and myself."

Jackson said his decision was influenced by his father, Joseph Jackson, the volatile figure in Jackson's life and his personal agent in his childhood involved in business operations. "I think Joseph was the one person that was most supportive of this, he always wanted me to be a ballplayer as well as a singer" Jackson said, adding that he had told him that "I was perhaps too young to retire from being a normal working person."

Buss, in a statement, said he was "pleased to have Michael join the Lakers."

"His popularity speaks for itself, and his success in this type of business is unmatched," said Buss, who is vacationing in Europe. "It is safe to say that Michael is the best entertainer in this country and probably the greatest entertainer of all time. We feel that he is the best person to help this team spirtually and hope that he will be able to help lead us back to the point of being a championship-caliber team in regard to fan support."

"I think the whole negotiation process was very quick," Kupchak said. " … There were no hang-ups, nothing substantial."