Phil Jackson is annoying for a variety of reasons, but above all, it is probably his squinty smugness that really rubs me the wrong way. Why does Phil Jackson think he is so awesome?
Because he has won eleven NBA Championships. Which, if you’re going to choose to act bemused at humanity, is probably a good reason, although I would argue not as good as being the President of the United States, because Jackson is much more smug than most U.S. Presidents.
Jackson acts like he invented the triangle. The actual triangle.
Like a spoiled child, Jackson can’t be held totally responsible for his behavior – as praise is constantly heaped on him for being some kind of transcendental sports genius
So, what were the keys to Jackson’s success during these eleven Championships?
He coached by far the most talented teams in the league at these respective times.
Jackson coached Michael Jordan, pretty much unanimously the greatest player of all time to six NBA Championships. He took over the Bulls in Jordan’s sixth season and promptly won three titles.
When Jordan left to pursue baseball for the ’93-’94 season, Jackson’s team lost in the second round of the playoffs. The following season, Jordan, not in shape to play basketball, played seventeen games as the Bulls lost again. Then, in Jordan’s first full season back, he won again. Then again. Then again.
At this point, Jordan retired, and Jackson moved onto coach the new best team in the league, the Lakers, which featured Shaq, the most dominant player since… Jordan, along with an insanely rich cast of supporting players including Kobe Bryant.
Jackson won three titles with Shaq. Then, Shaq left the Lakers, and Jackson didn’t win any more titles for five years.
He then won two more with Kobe Bryant being arguably the best player in the league.
Then, in 2011, the Lakers lost in the first round of the Playoffs, and Jackson, sensing the team’s inevitable decline, said ‘Peace Out.’
So, Jackson is the kind of guy who shows up late to a party, drinks all the best whisky, and immediately walks out the door.
Last year, before the impending implosion of the Lakers, he even tried to get on board to coach them. Why? They just signed two of the best players in the league.
I don’t like how he gets credit as being some kind of genius Zen Master. Really, what’s your philosophy all great one?
Oh, your job was a lot easier than most.
Got it. Well, maybe you should stop acting so smug and be grateful.