Phil Jackson

Phil Jackson started his coaching career with the New Jersey Nets under Kevin Loughery as a player-coach. The Nets finished with a 37–45 record, later being eliminated int he first round of the playoffs by the Philadelphia 76ers in 2 games. The following season, the Nets did not qualify for the playoffs.

Notable Players Coached

• Bernard King
  • 4× NBA All-Star (1982, 1984, 1985, 1991)
  • 2× All-NBA First Team (1984, 1985)
  • 1981 NBA Comeback Player of the Year
  • 1978 NBA All-Rookie Team
  • 1985 NBA scoring champion
• Eddie Jordan (1989 NBA Sixth Man of the Year & Future NBA head coach)
• Bob McAdoo
  • 2× NBA champion (1982, 1985)
  • 1975 NBA Most Valuable Player
  • 5× NBA All-Star (1974–1978)
  • 1975 All-NBA First Team
  • 1973 NBA Rookie of the Year
  • 3× NBA scoring champion (1974–1976)
  • NBA 75th Anniversary Team selection
• Maurice Lucas
  • 1977 NBA champion
  • 4× NBA All-Star (1977–1979, 1983)
  • ABA All-Star (1976)
  • NBA All-Defensive First Team (1978)
  • NBA All-Defensive Second Team (1979)
  • ABA All-Time Team
  • No. 20 retired by Portland Trail Blazers
• Mike O’Koren (Future NBA coach)
• Jan van Breda Kolff (Future 1984 Italian League champion, 1984 Italian Cup winner, & Future NBA coach)

On January 26, 1983, Jackson was appointed as head coach for the Albany Patroons of the CBA. He replaced Dean Meminger, his former teammate on the Knicks.

In his first season, the team finished with a 25-19 record, reaching the post-season. They won the Eastern Division semifinals against the Bay State Bombardier (3-2), then defeating the Puerto Rico Coquis in the Eastern Division Finals in 4 games (3–1) and won the CBA Championship against the Wyoming Wildcatters in 5 games (4-1). He was named the CBA Coach of the Year in 1985.

The following season, the team finished with a 34-14 record, 1st place in the Eastern Division, reaching the post-season. They defeated the Division Semi Finals 3–2 Vs the Toronto Tornados, then were eliminated in the Eastern Division Finals 3–2 Vs Tampa Bay Thrillers.

The following season, the Patroons finished their season with a 24-24 record, 4th in the Eastern Division. They lost in the semifinals against the Tampa Bay Thrillers in 7 games.

In 1987, Jackson’s last season with the team, the Patroons finished with a 26-22 record, reaching the playoffs for the 4th time under Jackson. They defeated the Jacksonville Jets in the Eastern Division semifinals in 4 games, then were eliminated in the Eastern Division Finals by the Rapid City Thrillers in 4 games.

Notable Players

• Kenny Natt (Future NBA & NCAA Coach)

Coach Jackson became the head coach of the Gallitos de Isabela of the Baloncesto Superior Nacional league.

Coach Jackson was hired as an assistant coach under Doug Collins. In Jackson’s first season, the Bulls finished with a record of 50-32, reaching the playoffs, where they were eliminated by the Detroit Pisons in 5 games in the semifinals. The following season, the Bulls finished with a 47–35 record, reaching the playoffs. Eastern Conference Finals. After the season, Collins was fired and Jackson was promoted to head coach.

Over nine seasons, Jackson and the Bulls made the playoffs every year and won six championships, winning three straight championships over separate three-year periods.

Jordan’s first retirement after the 1992–1993 season marked the end of the first “three-peat”, but he later returned in 1995, and the Bulls would trade for Dennis Rodman.

Bulls Finals Appearances

• 1991 vs. Los Angeles Lakers (Won 4–1)
  • Finals MVP: Michael Jordan
• 1992 vs. Portland Trail Blazers (Won 4–2)
  • Finals MVP: Michael Jordan
• 1993 vs. Phoenix Suns (Won 4–2)
  • Finals MVP: Michael Jordan
• 1996 vs. Seattle SuperSonics (Won 4–2)
  • Finals MVP: Michael Jordan
• 1997 vs. Utah Jazz (Won 4–2)
  • Finals MVP: Michael Jordan
• 1998 vs. Utah Jazz (Won 4–2)
  • Finals MVP: Michael Jordan

Jackson won the 1996 NBA Coach of the Year Award. In the same year, he was named one of the ten greatest NBA coaches of all time.

After the 1998-1999 season, Jackson chose not to renew his contract, ending his 11-year tenure with the Chicago Bulls.

Notable Players Coached

• Michael Jordan
  • 6× NBA champion (1991–1993, 1996–1998)
  • 6× NBA Finals MVP (1991–1993, 1996–1998)
  • 5× NBA Most Valuable Player (1988, 1991, 1992, 1996, 1998)
  • 14× NBA All-Star (1985–1993, 1996–1998, 2002, 2003)
  • 3× NBA All-Star Game MVP (1988, 1996, 1998)
  • 10× All-NBA First Team (1987–1993, 1996–1998)
  • 1988 NBA Defensive Player of the Year (1988)
  • 9× NBA All-Defensive First Team (1988–1993, 1996–1998)
  • 1985 NBA Rookie of the Year
  • 10× NBA scoring champion (1987–1993, 1996–1998)
  • 3× NBA steals leader (1988, 1990, 1993)
  • 2× NBA Slam Dunk Contest champion (1987, 1988)
  • No. 23 retired by Chicago Bulls
• Scottie Pippen
  • 6× NBA champion (1991–1993, 1996–1998)
  • 7× NBA All-Star (1990, 1992–1997)
  • NBA All-Star Game MVP (1994)
  • 3× All-NBA First Team (1994–1996)
  • 8× NBA All-Defensive First Team (1992–1999)
  • 2× NBA All-Defensive Second Team (1991, 2000)
  • 1995 NBA steals leader
  • 50th & 75th NBA anniversary team selections.
  • No. 33 retired by Chicago Bulls
• Dennis Rodman
  • 5× NBA champion (1989, 1990, 1996–1998)
  • 2× NBA All-Star (1990, 1992)
  • 2× NBA Defensive Player of the Year (1990, 1991)
  • 7× NBA All-Defensive First Team (1989–1993, 1995, 1996)
  • 7× NBA rebounding champion (1992–1998)
  • NBA 75th Anniversary Team
• Artis Gilmore
  • 1975 ABA champion
  • ABA Playoffs Most Valuable Player (1975)
  • ABA Most Valuable Player (1972)
  • 6× NBA All-Star (1978, 1979, 1981–1983, 1986)
  • 5× ABA All-Star (1972–1976)
  • 1974 ABA All-Star Game MVP
  • 5× All-ABA First Team (1972–1976)
  • 4× ABA All-Defensive First Team (1973–1976)
  • 1972 ABA Rookie of the Year
  • 4× ABA rebounding champion (1972–1974, 1976)
  • ABA All-Time Team
• Ron Harper
  • 5× NBA champion (1996–1998, 2000, 2001)
  • 1987 NBA All-Rookie First Team
• Horace Grant
  • 4× NBA champion (1991–1993, 2001)
  • 1994 NBA All-Star
  • 4× NBA All-Defensive Second Team (1993–1996)
• BJ Armstrong (3× NBA champion (1991–1993) & 1994 NBA All-Star)
• Craig Hodges (2× NBA champion (1991, 1992) & 3× NBA Three-Point Contest champion (1990–1992)
• Toni Kukoč (3× NBA champion (1996–1998) & 1996 NBA Sixth Man of the Year)
• Bill Cartwright (3× NBA champion (1991–1993) & 1980 NBA All-Star)
• Steve Kerr (5× NBA champion (1996–1999, 2003), NBA Three-Point Contest champion (1997), & Future 4x champion as an NBA head coach)
• Will Perdue (4× NBA champion (1991–1993, 1999)
• Luc Longley (3× NBA champion (1996–1998)
• Stacey King (3× NBA champion (1991–1993)
• John Paxson (3× NBA champion (1991–1993)

Coach Jackson was hired by the Los Angeles Lakers, succeeding Del Harris. His longtime assistants in Chicago; Tex Winter, Jim Cleamons, and Frank Hamblen followed Jackson.

Bringing immediate success to the Lakers as they finished with a 67-15 record, defeating the Indiana Pacers in 6 games.

The Lakers would go on to 3-peat, defeating the Philadelphia 76ers & New Jersey Nets in 2001 and 2002 respectively.

In 2004, the Lakers reached their 4th finals under Jackson but lost to the Detroit Pistons in 5 games. After the season, Jackson and the Lakers couldn’t come to an agreement on a new contract.

The Lakers hired former Houston Rockets championship coach Rudy Tomjanovich in 2004. After starting the season with a 24-19 record, Tomjanovich resigned due to his struggle with bladder cancer that had been dealing with since 2003, leaving Frank Hamblen as the interim head coach.

Jackson returned to the Lakers for the 2005-2006 season. In his returning season, the Lakers finished with a 45-37 record, making the playoffs, but lost to the Phoenix Suns in 7 games. In 2008, the Lakers made a deep playoff run, reaching their 5th finals, but after a hard-fought battle, lost to the Boston Celtics in 6 games.

The Lakers reached the finals for a 6th time in 2009 when they defeated the Orlando Magic in 5 games. The following season, the Lakers made yet another finals appearance, their 7th where they got their revenge on the Boston Celtics in the 2010 finals in 7 games, this would be their last championship and finals appearance until 2020.

After the 2010-2011 season, Jackson and the entire coaching staff except for Chuck Person had their contracts run out after the season. He was succeeded by Mike Brown.

Notable Players Coached

• Kobe Bryant
  • 5× NBA champion (2000–2002, 2009, 2010)
  • 2× NBA Finals MVP (2009, 2010)
  • 2008 NBA Most Valuable Player
  • 18× NBA All-Star (1998, 2000–2016)
  • 4× NBA All-Star Game MVP (2002, 2007, 2009, 2011)
  • 11× All-NBA First Team (2002–2004, 2006–2013)
  • 2× All-NBA Third Team (1999, 2005)
  • 9× NBA All-Defensive First Team (2000, 2003, 2004, 2006–2011)
  • 2× NBA scoring champion (2006, 2007)
  • 1997 NBA Slam Dunk Contest champion
  • NBA 75th Anniversary Team
  • Nos. 8 & 24 retired by Los Angeles Lakers
• Shaquille O’Neal
  • 4× NBA champion (2000–2002, 2006)
  • 3× NBA Finals MVP (2000–2002)
  • 2002 NBA Most Valuable Player
  • 15× NBA All-Star (1993–1998, 2000–2007, 2009)
  • 3× NBA All-Star Game MVP (2000, 2004, 2009)
  • 8× All-NBA First Team (1998, 2000–2006)
  • 1993 NBA Rookie of the Year
  • NBA All-Rookie First Team (1993)
  • 2× NBA scoring champion (1995, 2000)
  • 50th & 75th NBA anniversary team selections
  • No. 34 retired by Los Angeles Lakers
• Derek Fisher (5× NBA champion (2000–2002, 2009, 2010) & Future NBA Coach)
• Pau Gasol
  • 2× NBA champion (2009, 2010)
  • 6× NBA All-Star (2006, 2009–2011, 2015, 2016)
  • 2× All-NBA Second Team (2011, 2015)
  • 2× All-NBA Third Team (2009, 2010)
  • 2002 NBA Rookie of the Year
  • No. 16 retired by Los Angeles Lakers
• Rick Fox
  • 3× NBA champion (2000–2002)
  • 1992 NBA All-Rookie Second Team
• A.C. Green
  • 3× NBA champion (1987, 1988, 2000)
  • 1990 NBA All-Star
  • 1989 NBA All-Defensive Second Team (1989)
• Robert Horry
  • 7× NBA champion (1994, 1995, 2000–2002, 2005, 2007)
  • 1993 NBA All-Rookie Second Team
• Lamar Odom
  • 2× NBA champion (2009, 2010)
  • 2011 NBA Sixth Man of the Year
  • 2000 NBA All-Rookie First Team
• Ron Harper
  • 5× NBA champion (1996–1998, 2000, 2001)
  • 1987 NBA All-Rookie First Team
• Horace Grant
  • 4× NBA champion (1991–1993, 2001)
  • 1994 NBA All-Star
  • 4× NBA All-Defensive Second Team (1993–1996)
• Glen Rice
  • 2000 NBA champion
  • 3× NBA All-Star (1996–1998)
  • 1997 NBA All-Star Game MVP
• Mitch Richmond
  • 2002 NBA champion
  • 6× NBA All-Star (1993–1998)
  • 1995 NBA All-Star Game MVP
• Andrew Bynum
  • 2× NBA champion (2009, 2010)
  • 2012 NBA All-Star
  • 2012 All-NBA Second Team
• Ron Artest
  • 2010 NBA champion
  • 2003 NBA All-Star
  • 2004 All-NBA Third Team
  • 2004 NBA Defensive Player of the Year
  • 2× NBA All-Defensive First Team (2004, 2006)
  • 2× NBA All-Defensive Second Team (2003, 2009)
• Gary Payton
  • NBA champion (2006)
  • 9× NBA All-Star (1994–1998, 2000–2003)
  • 2× All-NBA First Team (1998, 2000)
  • 5× All-NBA Second Team (1995–1997, 1999, 2002)
  • 2× All-NBA Third Team (1994, 2001)
  • 1996 NBA Defensive Player of the Year
  • 9× NBA All-Defensive First Team (1994–2002)
  • 2000 NBA assists leader
  • 1996 NBA steals leader
  • NBA All-Rookie Second Team (1991)
  • NBA 75th Anniversary Team
• Karl Malone
  • 2× NBA Most Valuable Player (1997, 1999)
  • 14× NBA All-Star (1988–1998, 2000–2002)
  • 2× NBA All-Star Game MVP (1989, 1993)
  • 11× All-NBA First Team (1989–1999)
  • 2× All-NBA Second Team (1988, 2000)
  • All-NBA Third Team (2001)
  • 3× NBA All-Defensive First Team (1997–1999)
  • NBA All-Rookie First Team (1986)
  • NBA anniversary team (50th, 75th)
• Dennis Rodman
  • 5× NBA champion (1989, 1990, 1996–1998)
  • 2× NBA All-Star (1990, 1992)
  • 2× NBA Defensive Player of the Year (1990, 1991)
  • 7× NBA All-Defensive First Team (1989–1993, 1995, 1996)
  • 7× NBA rebounding champion (1992–1998)
  • NBA 75th Anniversary Team
• Brian Shaw (3× NBA champion (2000–2002) & Future NBA Coach)
• Tyronn Lue (2× NBA champion (2000, 2001) & 2016 NBA Champion as Head Coach)
• Luke Walton (2× NBA champion (2009, 2010) & Future NBA Coach)