A Long Strange Trip

There is no handbook on how to become an NBA coach. Some, like Pat Riley and Doc Rivers, are former NBA players. Others, like Tom Thibodeau and Eric Spoelstra, never broke a sweat playing in the association. Some, like George Karl and Larry Brown, come from the legendary coaching tree of Dean Smith. While Phil Jackson played for the New York Knicks and developed his basketball philosophies from Red Holtzman, his ascent into coaching was far more circuitous than standardized. Following his retirement in 1980, Jackson began coaching in lower level professional leagues including the CBA and in Puerto Rico. Although he had success, winning a title with the Albany Patroons, Jackson was consistently ignored for NBA coaching jobs. His countercultural attitudes during his playing days and admission of experimental drug use, gave executives trepidation about giving him an opportunity. In 1987, Bulls General Manager Jerry Krause hired Jackson as an assistant coach and promoted him to head coach after two years.

20 seasons and 11 championships later, Phil Jackson is seemingly in his last stand as a coach. He’s always approached the profession from a different angle than his more traditional peers. He doesn’t frantically pace the sidelines or constantly berate officials for the entirety of games. He doesn’t call timeouts during tumultuous stretches of games, opting instead for allowing his players to battle through the adversity. While other coaches sweat through their suits, Jackson often looks like he’s on the verge of falling asleep. He routinely burns incense in the locker room as a form of relaxation while also encouraging meditation sessions among his players. Famously, he hands out books to his players, selecting novels that will appeal to their given personalities, in the hopes that they will find inspiration.

While one can argue about the effectiveness of such practices, no one can dispute the results. Phil, more so than any other coach in professional sports, has been able to convince star players with outsized egos to buy into a system. Persuading Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant to trust their teammates in pressure packed circumstances is no easy feat. It’s often said, that the most difficult challenge in any sport, is to win consecutive championships. Invariably, star players become distracted with more endorsement opportunities while role players seek more recognition and financial compensation. Somehow, Jackson has been able to overcome those issues, leading his teams to three peats on three occasions with an opportunity for a fourth this spring. When the dust settles on the playoffs this year, Jackson will likely coach his last game. His peers will continue marching up and down the sidelines while eviscerating the referees. He’ll spend his time on the beaches of Malibu and open lands of Montana.