Sacred Hoops

Phillip Douglas Jackson was born on September 17, 1945 in Deer Lodge, Montana. Jackson was known as the best NBA head coach of all time, leading the Chicago Bulls to six titles and the Los Angeles Lakers to three. Before Phil became known as a victorious head coach, he was an ordinary athlete. Phil Jackson played basketball, football, and baseball in high school and was recruited to North Dakota University to play basketball after graduation. While attending the college, Phil helped his team win third-and fourth-place finishes in the NCAA Division II championships.

Jackson was known as the “Zen Master” to the game of basketball. In 1967, Phil Jackson was drafted in the second round by the New York Knicks, where he played as a favorite substitute for years. Phil grew older and realized he wanted to stay into the game by wasn’t going to play. Jackson began his coaching career in the lower leagues, receiving his big break in 1987 when he was hired as an assistant coach for the Chicago Bulls. Phil Jackson was promoted to head coach in 1989 and helmed the team until 1998.

Despite the success, tension grew between Phil Jackson and the Bulls general manager Jerry Krause. After winning the title in 1999 he took a year off. Previously after 1999, Phil decided to take his coaching skills and intelligence to Los Angeles California, coaching the Lakers. Phil Jackson had endless success winning three championships straight with the Lakers, beating the New Jersey Nets, Indiana Pacers, and also the Philadelphia Seventy Sixers. Tension grew between two star players on the team; consequently, Jackson decided to leave.

After the Lakers had a disappointing season 2004-2005, Phil was rehired as a head coach. 2007 Phil Jackson was known to be the highest paid coach in the NBA. Through all of his magnificent achievements, Phil Jackson managed to write a book called “Sacred Hoops. ” In the book Sacred Hoops, Phil talks a lot about motivation, teamwork; moreover, learning how to keep calm in tough situations. Phil Jackson states, “Not only is there more to life than basketball, there’s a lot more to basketball than basketball.

Jackson offers in the book an unusual mixture of new age advice and basketball knowledge, a sort of Zen and art of pro hoops. Jackson talks a lot about Zen metaphors, his message can be boiled down to two simple precepts: “The team is more important than one player or coach; furthermore, you have to live in the moment, on and off the court. ” Phil explains succinctly how the Zen Buddhist concern with cleaning the mind of impurities to focus on immediate sensation can be put to use in a range of situations.

Phil decided to write this book mainly for people who cannot work through difficult situations, “it’s almost a guideline to help you throughout your days” Jackson states. Phil Jackson was known to be one of the greatest coaches of all times, creating a dynasty with the Los Angeles Lakers. Phil Jackson was able to succeed by his meditated thoughts and ways to conquer the game. Jackson won eleven rings throughout his years of playing basketball and coaching the game of basketball. Phil will also be known as the “Zen Master” of basketball.