Phil Jackson has been revered as one of the best coaches in NBA history, leading the Chicago Bulls and Los Angeles Lakers to a total of 11 championships. This dominance by Jackson in two decades has a formula for success, as revealed by Lakers team owner Jeanie Buss.
In recent interview with ESPN’s Hannah Storm on the show “NBA DNA,” Buss answered the question of Jackson’s approach to building championship teams in an unorthodox way. The daughter of Lakers former owner Jim Buss had dated Jackson for more than a decade and learned a thing or two about team building.
Lakers Governor @JeanieBuss talks about how Phil Jackson built a family dynamic between @Shaq, Kobe, and his legendary 3-Peat teams from 00-02, on the new #NBADNA with @HannahStormESPN. @NBAHistory @Lakers https://t.co/eDSFK5byOf pic.twitter.com/DN0guiCxsb
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“I dated Phil for 15 years, so when I was his significant other, I learned how to look at the team through the lens of a coach. I remember getting in a fight with him because he was bringing the team in on Thanksgiving to practice,” Buss said.
Furthermore, Jackson answered Jeanie’s query on why it is important to have a ‘family’ culture in the organization and make them feel comfortable with their loved ones.
“I’m like, ‘Why are you doing this? Give them a day off.’ He’s like, ‘Settle down. Jeanie, what I’m trying to show them by having them practice on Thanksgiving (is) I wanted to establish that this is their family as well.’ And you have to be with your family on a holiday, and that’s powerful. When a coach can harness that and create that family dynamic, then you know you have something really special.”
2020-04-19 Michael Phil
Phil Jackson shows the difference of Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant to a young Chicago Bulls guard
The 11 championships of Phil Jackson had blessed him to have either Michael Jordan or Kobe Bryant leading the attack. Many basketball fans have always entered the debate on who is better between both shooting guards and Jackson has the authority to make a valid comparison.
A curious Coby White, who currently plays for the Chicago Bulls, had a chance to talk to Jackson and ask a question on the lifelong debate among basketball peers.
“The main thing he said was that Kobe didn’t have a conscience, and Michael Jordan did. Basically, he said if, after the game, Mike wasn’t 50 percent from the field, he would kind of be disappointed. Kobe could go 7-for-25, and he really didn’t care,” White recalls Jackson’s words.
Jackson is currently 78 years old and last coached in the NBA back in 2011. He left the league as an 11-time NBA champion who was the architect of the last three three-peats in the league.
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