Phil Jackson’s Books

Phil Jackson is unique in many respects. He won more championships than Red Auerbach (although that record is still open to debate), he was crafty enough, or lucky enough, to have coached some of the greatest superstars and teams in the history of the game. Another thing which makes him unique is his book recommendations to the players. He did it while coaching the Bulls, and he’s doing it while coaching the Lakers. Is this intellectual snobbery, or a very profound way of reaching his players?

We all know that the the only way for players to excel is to be none else but themselves. You’d think that this is a simple formula, but when you watch any basketball game (high school, college, pros) you see players trying to be something they are not. Players make adjustments over the years, they improve their free-throw shooting, or work on their post-up game (to name but a few), but they reach their true potential only when they realize who they really are on the basketball court, which is really an extension of their ordinary life personality. A true transformation happens when a go-to guy realizes that he’s really just a very good second fiddle. He can still drop thirty points on a given night, but forcing the ball through his hands on every possession alienates him from his true nature and minimizes his potential and reach. If somebody likes deferring, or simply enjoys passing (I believe a good pass can give you the same thrill as ripping it through the net from the three-point line) asking him to shoot a lot, even if he has a terrific shot, makes that player uncomfortable in his role, and minimizes the positive impact he could have on the team. Read more ->