Phil Jackson

Date of Birth: September 17, 1945

Zodiac Sign: Virgo

Date of Death: *Alive*

Biography

Philip Douglas Jackson, commonly known as Phil Jackson, is an American former professional basketball player and coach. Born on September 17, 1945, in Deer Lodge, Montana, Jackson is widely regarded as one of the greatest coaches in NBA history. He grew up in a devout Pentecostal household and attended the University of North Dakota, where he played college basketball. Jackson was drafted by the New York Knicks in 1967 and played as a forward, contributing to the team’s NBA championships in 1970 and 1973. After retiring from playing, Jackson transitioned into coaching. He began his coaching career in the Continental Basketball Association (CBA) and then moved on to assistant coaching positions in the NBA. Jackson’s big break came when he was appointed the head coach of the Chicago Bulls in 1989. Under his leadership, the Bulls won six NBA championships during the 1990s, with a team led by Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen. In 1999, Jackson became the head coach of the Los Angeles Lakers, where he continued his success by winning five more NBA championships, driven by the talents of Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O’Neal. Known for his implementation of the triangle offense and his unique, Zen-inspired coaching style, Jackson earned the nickname “Zen Master.” Jackson retired from coaching in 2011 but briefly returned to the NBA as an executive for the New York Knicks from 2014 to 2017. His career achievements have solidified his legacy as a transformative figure in the sport of basketball.

5 Interesting Facts about Phil Jackson

1. Phil Jackson has won a total of 11 NBA championships as a head coach, the most in NBA history.

2. He is known for his use of the “triangle offense,” a strategy he popularized with both the Chicago Bulls and the Los Angeles Lakers.

3. Jackson was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 2007.

4. He authored several books, including “Sacred Hoops: Spiritual Lessons of a Hardwood Warrior” and “Eleven Rings: The Soul of Success.”

5. Jackson is also known for his interest in Native American culture and philosophy, which influenced his coaching style and team-building techniques.

5 Most Interesting Quotes from Phil Jackson

1. “The strength of the team is each individual member. The strength of each member is the team.”

2. “Good teams become great ones when the members trust each other enough to surrender the Me for the We.”

3. “Approach the game with no preset agendas and you’ll probably come away surprised at your overall efforts.”

4. “Leadership is not about forcing your will on others. It’s about mastering the art of letting go.”

5. “Basketball is a simple game. It’s the players who make it complicated.”

Highest Net Worth Achieved

Phil Jackson’s highest net worth is estimated to be around $70 million.

Children

Phil Jackson has five children. He has three children with his first wife, Maxine, named Elizabeth, Brooke, and Charles. He also has two children, Ben and Chelsea, with his second wife, June.