How Phil Jackson built championship teams

In the middle of the Bull’s 1990 playoff run against the 76ers, Scottie Pippen’s father died. Scottie skipped game 4 to attend his father’s funeral. Scottie was rightfully heart broken and mourning. He looked as though there was no energy left to give while grieving.

Scottie was in a solemn state leading into game 5 against the 76ers. When the team arrived to the practice facility to warm up for the Game 5 playoff game, Phil Jackson, (Bull’s head coach) asked the entire Bulls team to form a circle around Scottie. Once, all eleven players and Phil had encircled Scottie, they recited the Lord’s Prayer.

Phil exclaimed after the prayer: “We may not be Scottie’s family but we’re as close to him as anyone in his life. This is a critical time for him. We should tell him how much we love him and show compassion for his loss.”

Scottie was deeply moved by the moment. He went on for a 29-point tear that evening in Game 5.

The Bulls wound up losing to the Pistons the next round of 1990 playoffs, but the seeds of love and trust were firmly planted for the team to grow into a championship caliber team the following season.

After reading Phil’s autobiography, Sacred Hoops, I would sum up his career as a spiritual counselor who happened to win A LOT of NBA championships. Phil was a Buddhist, Christian basketball coach.

He focused on the art of going deeper than the “X’s & O’s” of the game of basketball.

In Phil’s own words:

“Most leaders tend to view teamwork as a social engineering problem: take x group, add y motivational technique and get z result... Creating a successful team… is essentially a spiritual act. It requires the individuals… to surrender their self-interest for the greater good.”

Building a cohesive team of greatness requires the courage to go deeper. Phil was so much more than a basketball coach. Basketball was merely the topic to help his players connect to the highest version of themselves.

Onward,

Matt