Lakers’ Jackson to have kidney stone removed

? Coach Phil Jackson of the three-time defending NBA champion Los Angeles Lakers is scheduled to have a kidney stone removed today.

He will miss practice, but hopes to return for Tuesday night’s game against the Los Angeles Clippers.

“I feel pretty good, I have some discomfort,” Jackson said before Sunday night’s game against the Seattle SuperSonics at Staples Center. “It became apparent over the All-Star weekend that something needed to be done.

“If I don’t feel up to it Tuesday night, I won’t be here.”

The procedure will be performed on an outpatient basis by Dr. Lawrence Paletz, a urologist, at Centinela Hospital Medical Center in Inglewood.

“It is a procedure where sound waves are actually used to shatter the stone,” said Dr. John Moe, the Lakers’ primary internist. “This one is large enough where it can’t pass on its own. The idea is to break it up so it can pass on its own.”

Moe said Jackson has had symptoms for a few years.

“It has become more uncomfortable in the last three weeks,” Moe said, adding that some blood was found recently in Jackson’s urine.

“Everything is ready, he looks good,” Moe said.