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Eleven Rings
During his storied career as head coach of the Chicago Bulls and Los Angeles Lakers, Phil Jackson won more championships than any coach in the history of professional sports. Even more important, he succeeded in never wavering from coaching his way, from a place of deep values. Jackson was tagged as the “Zen master” half in jest by sportswriters, but the nickname speaks to an important truth: this is a coach who inspired, not goaded; who led by awakening and challenging the better angels of his players’ nature, not their egos, fear, or greed.
This is the story of a preacher’s kid from North Dakota who grew up to be one of the most innovative leaders of our time. In his quest to reinvent himself, Jackson explored everything from humanistic psychology and Native American philosophy to Zen meditation. In the process, he developed a new approach to leadership based on freedom, authenticity, and selfless teamwork that turned the hypercompetitive world of professional sports on its head.
In Eleven Rings, Jackson candidly describes how he:
Learned the secrets of mindfulness and team chemistry while playing for the champion New York Knicks in the 1970s
Managed Michael Jordan, the greatest player in the world, and got him to embrace selflessness, even if it meant losing a scoring title
Forged successful teams out of players of varying abilities by getting them to trust one another and perform in sync
Inspired Dennis Rodman and other “uncoachable” personalities to devote themselves to something larger than themselves
Transformed Kobe Bryant from a rebellious teenager into a mature leader of a championship team.
Eleven times, Jackson led his teams to the ultimate goal: the NBA championship—six times with the Chicago Bulls and five times with the Los Angeles Lakers. We all know the legendary stars on those teams, or think we do. What Eleven Rings shows us, however, is that when it comes to the most important lessons, we don’t know very much at all. This book is full of revelations: about fascinating personalities and their drive to win; about the wellsprings of motivation and competition at the highest levels; and about what it takes to bring out the best in ourselves and others.
This is the story of a preacher’s kid from North Dakota who grew up to be one of the most innovative leaders of our time. In his quest to reinvent himself, Jackson explored everything from humanistic psychology and Native American philosophy to Zen meditation. In the process, he developed a new approach to leadership based on freedom, authenticity, and selfless teamwork that turned the hypercompetitive world of professional sports on its head.
In Eleven Rings, Jackson candidly describes how he:
Learned the secrets of mindfulness and team chemistry while playing for the champion New York Knicks in the 1970s
Managed Michael Jordan, the greatest player in the world, and got him to embrace selflessness, even if it meant losing a scoring title
Forged successful teams out of players of varying abilities by getting them to trust one another and perform in sync
Inspired Dennis Rodman and other “uncoachable” personalities to devote themselves to something larger than themselves
Transformed Kobe Bryant from a rebellious teenager into a mature leader of a championship team.
Eleven times, Jackson led his teams to the ultimate goal: the NBA championship—six times with the Chicago Bulls and five times with the Los Angeles Lakers. We all know the legendary stars on those teams, or think we do. What Eleven Rings shows us, however, is that when it comes to the most important lessons, we don’t know very much at all. This book is full of revelations: about fascinating personalities and their drive to win; about the wellsprings of motivation and competition at the highest levels; and about what it takes to bring out the best in ourselves and others.
386 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 21, 2013
2182 people are currently reading
17376 people want to read
About the author
Phil Jackson
45 books268 followersPhilip Douglas Jackson is an American former professional basketball player, coach, and executive. A power forward, Jackson played 12 seasons in the National Basketball Association (NBA), winning championships with the New York Knicks in 1970 and 1973. Regarded as one of the greatest coaches of all time, Jackson was the head coach of the Chicago Bulls from 1989 to 1998, leading them to six NBA championships. He then coached the Los Angeles Lakers from 1999 to 2004 and again from 2005 to 2011; the team won five league titles under his leadership. Jackson's 11 NBA titles as a coach surpassed the previous record of nine set by Red Auerbach. He holds numerous other records as a coach, such as most postseason wins (229), and most NBA Conference titles (13).
Jackson is known for his use of Tex Winter's triangle offense as well as a holistic approach to coaching that was influenced by Eastern philosophy, garnering him the nickname "Zen Master". Jackson cited Robert Pirsig's book Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance as one of the major guiding forces in his life. He also applied Native American spiritual practices as documented in his book Sacred Hoops. He is the author of several candid books about his teams and his basketball strategies. In 2007, Jackson was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame. In 1996, as part of celebrations for the NBA's 50th anniversary, Jackson was named one of the 10 greatest coaches in league history.
Jackson retired from coaching in 2011 and joined the Knicks as an executive in March 2014. He was dismissed as the Knicks' team president in 2017.
Jackson is known for his use of Tex Winter's triangle offense as well as a holistic approach to coaching that was influenced by Eastern philosophy, garnering him the nickname "Zen Master". Jackson cited Robert Pirsig's book Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance as one of the major guiding forces in his life. He also applied Native American spiritual practices as documented in his book Sacred Hoops. He is the author of several candid books about his teams and his basketball strategies. In 2007, Jackson was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame. In 1996, as part of celebrations for the NBA's 50th anniversary, Jackson was named one of the 10 greatest coaches in league history.
Jackson retired from coaching in 2011 and joined the Knicks as an executive in March 2014. He was dismissed as the Knicks' team president in 2017.
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March 13, 2020
To get this out of the way first. I'm a Knicks fan. So, in the words of ESPN's Stephen A. Smith: "This damned Phil Jackson, man!"
I've not picked up this book because I'm a fan of Phil, obviously. I also didn't pick it up to hate on him, though. And there's no denying that Phil Jackson – the coach, not the executive – was incredibly successful. He lead two extremely talented teams, first the Bulls and later the Lakers, to multiple championships, when, prior to his arrival, they had trouble getting over the hump.
But to say that I picked this up to learn about his coaching methods, wouldn't be true either. I wanted to read something about MJ, and even more so about the late Kobe Bryant. In fact, after learning of Kobe's untimely death I became so immensely sad that I just couldn't bring myself to read any of the other books I had already started. I felt numb. I was watching some games. I was watching old clips of Kobe. I read a lot of the coverage about his death and his legacy. But I wasn't quite there. It all passed me by somehow. So I wanted to do something to become more active. Something to clear my mind. Something to make me not only think of Kobe as that transcendent player and person that had just passed away.
It was the right book to achieve that. First of all, this is not an autobiography. Phil Jackson's formative years, his religious upbringing, that's mentioned a couple of times. But only briefly. And those passages are more about him finding a way to be his own person, with his own set of beliefs. But it's also not a chronicle of his journey to achieve that. His playing days (he was part of two Knicks championship teams after all) are covered in a few chapters at the beginning. But then the book quickly moves on to his years as the head coach of the Chicago Bulls who, lead by Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen, won six championships. And after that first climax, though it's actually been two climaxes, because of Jordan's temporary retirement and the team's way back to the top after his return, we then also quickly move on to his time with the Lakers. Where he managed to win another three championships in a row, with Shaq and Kobe. And then after some struggles another two with Kobe as the leader of the team. The book is mostly a chronicle of Phil Jackson's time with those great Bulls and Lakers teams. So the title Eleven Rings is appropriate and not self-congratulatory.
Of course Phil is called The Zen Master. And Buddhism plays a huge role in this book. He quotes a lot of people, and he explains how he used certain techniques to bring together a group of talented individuals and make them a winning team. That's the main thing he tried to teach the players. How I becomes we. As a result the book reads like a cross between a self-help book, an autobiography and an historic account of two (or actually four) extended championship runs. Frankly, I didn't mind.
The triangle gets mentioned quite often as well. As one would expect from Phil Jackson. But Basketball systems are still not a main focus of the book.
The players and their personalities are, though. The main protagonists here are of course Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippen, Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O'Neal. But also Derek Fisher, who's been a player that Jackson quite obviously admired a lot. And Dennis Rodman, who was a challenging player to manage, to say the least.
Much has been made of Phil's comments that Kobe was "uncoachable". But after reading this book I have to say that there is also great respect towards the player and the person that Kobe Bryant was. Especially because of his resilience, iron-clad self-confidence, tireless work ethic and his relentless drive and will to win. That's one of the reasons he often gets compared to Michael Jordan. And Jackson makes this comparison here as well. And also goes into detail with it. There are certainly not many people more qualified to do so.
It also has to be said that Phil's unflattering comments about Kobe came at a time when Shaq and Kobe were feuding over who's got to be the leader of the Lakers. Those were two supremely talented alpha-males with huge egos, that were also very young and immature, going up against each other. When they instead were supposed to work with each other to achieve their goals. They had some growing-up to do, as we all have at certain points in our lives. And Kobe growing into a more mature person and leader of the team, that's covered here as well. So I don't really see the problem.
This quote is not directly related to the Shaq and Kobe feud. But more a general assessment of the NBA landscape. And I appreciated the frankness.
What I didn't appreciate was that Jackson quite often blames bad officiating for losses. I mean, I get it. We all, the players, the coaches, and the fans as well, we have this tendency to blame losses on someone else. And often that someone are the referees. I do it too, sometimes. Though I've gotten a lot better in that regard. Which is something I would expect from The Zen Master as well. Of course he was more involved in all of this than I was. But I've also not written a book about it. Some bias is probably inevitable, considering the role he played. However, it takes away a bit of credibility.
I also don't really understand how Dirk Nowitzki's name can be spelled wrong throughout the book. That's surprising, but also not really a major issue. Dirk only gets mentioned repeatedly towards the end anyway. Although, I didn't really like how Phil saw that playoff series with the Mavericks either. But we also don't have to agree on everything.
Sometimes, even in a team sport, there's just some individual that beats you, with his talent or with the sheer force of his will. It happens. Phil should know. He coached a couple of guys that were very capable of doing this. Though they were most successful when they bought into the team concept. When they learned to trust their teammates. But you also have to give people the opportunity to express themselves. To find the right balance isn't always easy. Phil knows that as well.
Interesting book, from several perspectives. Still, if you are not a basketball fan you will probably skip this. And that's alright. I suppose there are better, more in-depth books if you want to read about team building or Buddhism. For me it was the right book at the right time.
I've not picked up this book because I'm a fan of Phil, obviously. I also didn't pick it up to hate on him, though. And there's no denying that Phil Jackson – the coach, not the executive – was incredibly successful. He lead two extremely talented teams, first the Bulls and later the Lakers, to multiple championships, when, prior to his arrival, they had trouble getting over the hump.
But to say that I picked this up to learn about his coaching methods, wouldn't be true either. I wanted to read something about MJ, and even more so about the late Kobe Bryant. In fact, after learning of Kobe's untimely death I became so immensely sad that I just couldn't bring myself to read any of the other books I had already started. I felt numb. I was watching some games. I was watching old clips of Kobe. I read a lot of the coverage about his death and his legacy. But I wasn't quite there. It all passed me by somehow. So I wanted to do something to become more active. Something to clear my mind. Something to make me not only think of Kobe as that transcendent player and person that had just passed away.
It was the right book to achieve that. First of all, this is not an autobiography. Phil Jackson's formative years, his religious upbringing, that's mentioned a couple of times. But only briefly. And those passages are more about him finding a way to be his own person, with his own set of beliefs. But it's also not a chronicle of his journey to achieve that. His playing days (he was part of two Knicks championship teams after all) are covered in a few chapters at the beginning. But then the book quickly moves on to his years as the head coach of the Chicago Bulls who, lead by Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen, won six championships. And after that first climax, though it's actually been two climaxes, because of Jordan's temporary retirement and the team's way back to the top after his return, we then also quickly move on to his time with the Lakers. Where he managed to win another three championships in a row, with Shaq and Kobe. And then after some struggles another two with Kobe as the leader of the team. The book is mostly a chronicle of Phil Jackson's time with those great Bulls and Lakers teams. So the title Eleven Rings is appropriate and not self-congratulatory.
Of course Phil is called The Zen Master. And Buddhism plays a huge role in this book. He quotes a lot of people, and he explains how he used certain techniques to bring together a group of talented individuals and make them a winning team. That's the main thing he tried to teach the players. How I becomes we. As a result the book reads like a cross between a self-help book, an autobiography and an historic account of two (or actually four) extended championship runs. Frankly, I didn't mind.
The triangle gets mentioned quite often as well. As one would expect from Phil Jackson. But Basketball systems are still not a main focus of the book.
The players and their personalities are, though. The main protagonists here are of course Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippen, Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O'Neal. But also Derek Fisher, who's been a player that Jackson quite obviously admired a lot. And Dennis Rodman, who was a challenging player to manage, to say the least.
Much has been made of Phil's comments that Kobe was "uncoachable". But after reading this book I have to say that there is also great respect towards the player and the person that Kobe Bryant was. Especially because of his resilience, iron-clad self-confidence, tireless work ethic and his relentless drive and will to win. That's one of the reasons he often gets compared to Michael Jordan. And Jackson makes this comparison here as well. And also goes into detail with it. There are certainly not many people more qualified to do so.
It also has to be said that Phil's unflattering comments about Kobe came at a time when Shaq and Kobe were feuding over who's got to be the leader of the Lakers. Those were two supremely talented alpha-males with huge egos, that were also very young and immature, going up against each other. When they instead were supposed to work with each other to achieve their goals. They had some growing-up to do, as we all have at certain points in our lives. And Kobe growing into a more mature person and leader of the team, that's covered here as well. So I don't really see the problem.
By the time most future NBA players are middle schoolers, they become immersed in a universe that reinforces egoistic behavior. As they grow older and continue to succeed, they become surrounded by legions of agents, promoters, groupies, and other sycophants who keep telling them they're "da man". It doesn't take long before they start to really buy into it.
This quote is not directly related to the Shaq and Kobe feud. But more a general assessment of the NBA landscape. And I appreciated the frankness.
What I didn't appreciate was that Jackson quite often blames bad officiating for losses. I mean, I get it. We all, the players, the coaches, and the fans as well, we have this tendency to blame losses on someone else. And often that someone are the referees. I do it too, sometimes. Though I've gotten a lot better in that regard. Which is something I would expect from The Zen Master as well. Of course he was more involved in all of this than I was. But I've also not written a book about it. Some bias is probably inevitable, considering the role he played. However, it takes away a bit of credibility.
I also don't really understand how Dirk Nowitzki's name can be spelled wrong throughout the book. That's surprising, but also not really a major issue. Dirk only gets mentioned repeatedly towards the end anyway. Although, I didn't really like how Phil saw that playoff series with the Mavericks either. But we also don't have to agree on everything.
Sometimes, even in a team sport, there's just some individual that beats you, with his talent or with the sheer force of his will. It happens. Phil should know. He coached a couple of guys that were very capable of doing this. Though they were most successful when they bought into the team concept. When they learned to trust their teammates. But you also have to give people the opportunity to express themselves. To find the right balance isn't always easy. Phil knows that as well.
It was a clash of visions. Tex [Winter – Phil's assistant coach] believed it was foolhardy for a team to rely so heavily on one person, no matter how talented he was. Michael [Jordan] argued that his creativity was opening up exciting new possibilities for the game.
"There's no I in the word 'team,'" Tex would say.
"But there is in the word 'win,'" Michael would counter with a grin.
As far as I was concerned, they were both right – up to a point.
Interesting book, from several perspectives. Still, if you are not a basketball fan you will probably skip this. And that's alright. I suppose there are better, more in-depth books if you want to read about team building or Buddhism. For me it was the right book at the right time.
February 26, 2014
Good quick read. Different look at all 11 championship runs. It always amazes me at how much preparation, energy and thought go into a single game or series. This book shows how mental the game of basketball is. This is refreshing these days considering our country celebrates mediocrity and stupidity (don't believe me watch TV). It is also interesting to see his perspective on players like Jordan, Pippen, Kobe, and Shaq. His ability to find various ways to motivate each player on his teams is what allowed him to have the success he had. Many look at Phil’s accomplishments and give them the Stuart Scott crooked eye because he had very talented teams. There isn’t one successful coach in any sport who won at a high level without talent, so FOH. Phil Jackson is the greatest coach of my generation and in my personal opinion, Phil Jackson has the best books when it comes to coaches. The reason for this is because his books are part sports stories, part self- improvement, and part management & leadership. This book is no different. Many will feel I enjoyed this book because I’m a Lakers fan, and part of that may be true, as it is good to hear the stories behind the great Laker teams. I also believe you will enjoy this book if you are not a fan of Phil, the Lakers, the Bulls, or even basketball. His philosophies and mental approach to a child’s game make this book that interesting.
-JW
-JW
August 22, 2013
I can't exactly recall where I heard about Phil Jackson's book... maybe on NPR or late night TV. At any rate, I am not a huge basketball fan, but was intrigued about learning leadership lessons from this incredibly successful coach. I think there are some pointers to be gleaned from this book that would particularly be helpful to educators... looking at each person on your team (or class) as an individual and figuring out what makes them tick, finding common ground and treating others who are different from you with respect, figuring out when to apply pressure to a group you are leading and when to back off, and generally learning to be more mindful and living in the present (and leading others to do so as well). It's also interesting to imagine big, tough basketball players incorporating Phil's Zen oriented pursuits into their lives. This book makes me want to investigate Eastern religions a bit more and apply some of the principles outlined here to my personal and professional lives.
By the way, another book that I think complements this one nicely is Pat Conroy's My Losing Season (http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/11...). Conroy's book is also about basketball, but also about the life lessons one learns by being on a team.
By the way, another book that I think complements this one nicely is Pat Conroy's My Losing Season (http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/11...). Conroy's book is also about basketball, but also about the life lessons one learns by being on a team.
September 15, 2021
This is a wonderful sports but that is chocked full of action from one of the greatest coaches of all time.
His comments about stars like Jordan, Pippin, Rodman, Shaw and Kobe were impressive. They also had me meandering back to those incidents and had me remembering where I was for them.
Additionally, his life advice is valuable.
A very good book
I recommend
His comments about stars like Jordan, Pippin, Rodman, Shaw and Kobe were impressive. They also had me meandering back to those incidents and had me remembering where I was for them.
Additionally, his life advice is valuable.
A very good book
I recommend
May 26, 2013
I love this book. It's a perfect storm in reverse: every good thing about it is enhanced by all the other good things that surround it.
For a lifelong basketball fan with a deep interest in spiritual practice, creative improvisation, managing talent, and eliciting outstanding performance, it's a heady mix.
The book backfills my memory of the great games I still replay in my mind, going back to a limping Willis's unforgettable two shots in the final game against the Lakers in 1970. But it is more than an intimate history of the game from a brilliant analyst. You get to follow the growth of players like Jordan, Pippin, and Bryant, people who were great to start with, as they into something beyond mere skill and athleticism. You understand the delicacy with which Jackson handled someone as flamboyant and ornery as Rodman, successfully converting his eccentricities into consistent contributions at the highest level.
But the book is also a toolbox filled with brilliant how-tos: How to fuse gifted individuals into what Jackson calls a "tribe;" How to instill confidence and independence in fragile egos; how to elicit consistently great performance from every member of the team, from the stars to the role players coming off the bench; how to manage "the elephant," (i.e. Jerry Krause). There are even simple but effective instructions in Zen Meditation.
Eleven Rings is a lucid exposition of the ways it is still possible to function originally, creatively, and responsibly, while working with others. He reminds me of Ingmar Bergman and Robert Bresson in that respect. Both were filmmakers with a religious dimension, who were known for their creative collaborations. But they worked at one remove from the commercial mainstream. Jackson seems to have succeeded under the glare of the bright lights and the pressure of the big bucks.
For a lifelong basketball fan with a deep interest in spiritual practice, creative improvisation, managing talent, and eliciting outstanding performance, it's a heady mix.
The book backfills my memory of the great games I still replay in my mind, going back to a limping Willis's unforgettable two shots in the final game against the Lakers in 1970. But it is more than an intimate history of the game from a brilliant analyst. You get to follow the growth of players like Jordan, Pippin, and Bryant, people who were great to start with, as they into something beyond mere skill and athleticism. You understand the delicacy with which Jackson handled someone as flamboyant and ornery as Rodman, successfully converting his eccentricities into consistent contributions at the highest level.
But the book is also a toolbox filled with brilliant how-tos: How to fuse gifted individuals into what Jackson calls a "tribe;" How to instill confidence and independence in fragile egos; how to elicit consistently great performance from every member of the team, from the stars to the role players coming off the bench; how to manage "the elephant," (i.e. Jerry Krause). There are even simple but effective instructions in Zen Meditation.
Eleven Rings is a lucid exposition of the ways it is still possible to function originally, creatively, and responsibly, while working with others. He reminds me of Ingmar Bergman and Robert Bresson in that respect. Both were filmmakers with a religious dimension, who were known for their creative collaborations. But they worked at one remove from the commercial mainstream. Jackson seems to have succeeded under the glare of the bright lights and the pressure of the big bucks.
January 20, 2020
Some quotes from this illuminating book on leadership:
As far as Tex was concerned, the genius was in the details, and it didn't matter if you were Michael Jordan or the lowest rookie on the team: Tex would badger you until you got it right. Every year Tex, who loved inspirational sayings, would recite to the team his favorite proverb about the importance of learning the details:
* * * * *
That’s why at the start of every season I always encouraged players to focus on the journey rather than the goal. What matters most is playing the game the right way and having the courage to grow, as human beings as well as basketball players. When you do that, the ring takes care of itself.
* * * * *
Michael had a powerful presence on the floor, but he had a different style of leadership than Larry Bird or Magic Johnson, who could galvanize a team with their magnetic personalities. As Los Angeles Times columnist Mark Heisler put it, Jordan wasn't "a natural leader, he was a natural doer." He drove the team with the sheer force of his will. It was as if he were saying, "I'm going out here, men, and I'm going to kick some ass. Are you coming with me?" Michael also held his teammates to the same high standard of performance he expected of himself. "Michael was a demanding teammate," says John Paxon. "If you were on the floor, you had to do your job and do it the right way. He couldn't accept anyone not caring as much as he did."
* * * * *
Michael loved challenges. So I challenged him to imagine a new way of relating to his teammates. He expected his teammates to perform at his level, even though there were only a handful of players in the league who could meet that standard. I encouraged him to take a fresh look at his role on the team and try to envision ways he he could serve as a catalyst to get all the players to work together. I didn't dictate to him what I wanted; I simply pushed him to think about the problem in a different way, mostly by asking him questions about the impact that this or that strategy might have on the team. "How do you think Scottie or Horace would feel if you did this?" I would say. I treated him like a partner, and slowly he began to shift his way of thinking. When I let him solve the problem himself, he was more likely to buy into the solution and not repeat the same counterproductive behavior in the future.
* * * * *
At that time most coaches subscribed to the Knute Rockne theory of mental training. They tried to get their players revved up for the game with win-one-for-the-Gipper-style pep talks. That approach may work if you're a linebacker. But what I discovered playing for the Knicks is that when I get too excited mentally, it had a negative effect on my ability to stay focused under pressure. So I did the opposite. Instead of charging players up, I developed a number of strategies to help them quiet their minds and build awareness so they could go into battle poised and in control.
* * * * *
The most we can hope for is to create the best possible conditions for success, then let go of the outcome. The ride is a lot more fun that way.
* * * * *
In the The Tao of Leadership, John Heider stresses the importance of interfering as little as possible. "Rules reduce freedom and responsibility," he writes. "Enforcement of rules is coercive and manipulative, which diminishes spontaneity and absorbs group energy. The more coercive you are, the more resistant the group will become.
Heider, whose book is based on Lao-tzu's Tao Te Ching, suggests that leaders practice becoming more open. "The wise leader is of service: receptive, yielding, following. The group member's vibration dominates the lead, while the leader follows. But soon it is the member's consciousness which is transformed, the member's vibration which is resolved."
That is what I was trying to accomplish with the Bulls. My goal was to act as instinctively as possible to allow the players to lead the team from within. My goal was to act as instinctively as possible to allow the players to lead the team from within. I wanted them to be able to flow with the action, the way a tree bends in the wind. That's why I put so much emphasis on having tightly structured practices. I would assert myself forcefully in practice to imbue the players with a strong vision of where we needed to go and what we had to do to get there. But once the game began, I would slip into the background and let the players orchestrate the attack...
To make this strategy work, I needed to develop a strong circle of team leaders who could transform that vision into reality. Structure is critical. On every successful team I've coached, most of the players had a clear idea of the role they were expected to play. When the pecking order is clear, it reduces the players' anxiety and stress. But if it's unclear and the top players are constantly vying for position, the center will not hold, no matter how talented the roster.
* * * * *
Getting the players to turn inward wasn't always easy. Not everyone on the Bulls was interested in "spiritual" realization. But I didn't hit them over the head with it. My approach was subtle. Every year the team went on a long West Coast road trip in November when the circus took over the stadium for a few weeks. Before the book, I would select a book for each of the players to read, based on what I knew about them. Here's a typical list: Song of Solomon (for Michael Jordan), Things Fall Apart (Bill Cartwright), Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance (John Paxson), The Ways of White Folks (Scottie Pippin), Joshua: A Parable for Today (Horace Grant), Zen Mind, Beginner's Mind: Informal Talks on Zen Meditation and Practice (B.J. Armstrong), Way of the Peaceful Warrior (Craig Hodges), On the Road (Will Perdue), and Beavis & Butt-Head: This Book Sucks (Stacey King).
* * * * *
Working with Mumford, Michael adopted a new way of leading based on what worked best with each player. With some players, he decided, he would get physical, either by demonstrating what needed to be done with his body or, in Scottie's case, simply by being present. "Scottie was one of those guys for whom I had to be there every single day," says Michael. "If I took a day off, he would take a day off. But if I was there every single day, he would follow." With other players -- Dennis in particular -- Michael would go emotional. "You couldn't yell at Dennis," he says. "You had to find a way to get into his world for a few quick seconds so he could understand what you were saying." With still others, Michael would communicate primarily on a verbal level. Example: Scott Burrell, a forward on the 1997-98 Bulls. "I could yell at him and he would get it," says Michael, "but it didn't hurt his confidence at all."
* * * * *
Tex Winter used to say that our successful championship runs were usually triggered by one game in which we completely dominated our opponents from beginning to end.
* * * * *
As a leader your job is to do everything in your power to create the perfect conditions for success by benching your ego and inspiring your team to play the game the right way. But at some point, you need to let go and turn yourself over to the basketball gods. The soul of success is surrendering to what is.
As far as Tex was concerned, the genius was in the details, and it didn't matter if you were Michael Jordan or the lowest rookie on the team: Tex would badger you until you got it right. Every year Tex, who loved inspirational sayings, would recite to the team his favorite proverb about the importance of learning the details:
For want of a nail the shoe was lost.
For want of a shoe the horse was lost.
For want of a horse the rider was lost.
For want of a rider the message was lost.
For want of a message the battle was lost.
For want of a battle the kingdom was lost.
And all for the want of a horseshoe nail.
* * * * *
That’s why at the start of every season I always encouraged players to focus on the journey rather than the goal. What matters most is playing the game the right way and having the courage to grow, as human beings as well as basketball players. When you do that, the ring takes care of itself.
* * * * *
Michael had a powerful presence on the floor, but he had a different style of leadership than Larry Bird or Magic Johnson, who could galvanize a team with their magnetic personalities. As Los Angeles Times columnist Mark Heisler put it, Jordan wasn't "a natural leader, he was a natural doer." He drove the team with the sheer force of his will. It was as if he were saying, "I'm going out here, men, and I'm going to kick some ass. Are you coming with me?" Michael also held his teammates to the same high standard of performance he expected of himself. "Michael was a demanding teammate," says John Paxon. "If you were on the floor, you had to do your job and do it the right way. He couldn't accept anyone not caring as much as he did."
* * * * *
Michael loved challenges. So I challenged him to imagine a new way of relating to his teammates. He expected his teammates to perform at his level, even though there were only a handful of players in the league who could meet that standard. I encouraged him to take a fresh look at his role on the team and try to envision ways he he could serve as a catalyst to get all the players to work together. I didn't dictate to him what I wanted; I simply pushed him to think about the problem in a different way, mostly by asking him questions about the impact that this or that strategy might have on the team. "How do you think Scottie or Horace would feel if you did this?" I would say. I treated him like a partner, and slowly he began to shift his way of thinking. When I let him solve the problem himself, he was more likely to buy into the solution and not repeat the same counterproductive behavior in the future.
* * * * *
At that time most coaches subscribed to the Knute Rockne theory of mental training. They tried to get their players revved up for the game with win-one-for-the-Gipper-style pep talks. That approach may work if you're a linebacker. But what I discovered playing for the Knicks is that when I get too excited mentally, it had a negative effect on my ability to stay focused under pressure. So I did the opposite. Instead of charging players up, I developed a number of strategies to help them quiet their minds and build awareness so they could go into battle poised and in control.
* * * * *
The most we can hope for is to create the best possible conditions for success, then let go of the outcome. The ride is a lot more fun that way.
* * * * *
In the The Tao of Leadership, John Heider stresses the importance of interfering as little as possible. "Rules reduce freedom and responsibility," he writes. "Enforcement of rules is coercive and manipulative, which diminishes spontaneity and absorbs group energy. The more coercive you are, the more resistant the group will become.
Heider, whose book is based on Lao-tzu's Tao Te Ching, suggests that leaders practice becoming more open. "The wise leader is of service: receptive, yielding, following. The group member's vibration dominates the lead, while the leader follows. But soon it is the member's consciousness which is transformed, the member's vibration which is resolved."
That is what I was trying to accomplish with the Bulls. My goal was to act as instinctively as possible to allow the players to lead the team from within. My goal was to act as instinctively as possible to allow the players to lead the team from within. I wanted them to be able to flow with the action, the way a tree bends in the wind. That's why I put so much emphasis on having tightly structured practices. I would assert myself forcefully in practice to imbue the players with a strong vision of where we needed to go and what we had to do to get there. But once the game began, I would slip into the background and let the players orchestrate the attack...
To make this strategy work, I needed to develop a strong circle of team leaders who could transform that vision into reality. Structure is critical. On every successful team I've coached, most of the players had a clear idea of the role they were expected to play. When the pecking order is clear, it reduces the players' anxiety and stress. But if it's unclear and the top players are constantly vying for position, the center will not hold, no matter how talented the roster.
* * * * *
Getting the players to turn inward wasn't always easy. Not everyone on the Bulls was interested in "spiritual" realization. But I didn't hit them over the head with it. My approach was subtle. Every year the team went on a long West Coast road trip in November when the circus took over the stadium for a few weeks. Before the book, I would select a book for each of the players to read, based on what I knew about them. Here's a typical list: Song of Solomon (for Michael Jordan), Things Fall Apart (Bill Cartwright), Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance (John Paxson), The Ways of White Folks (Scottie Pippin), Joshua: A Parable for Today (Horace Grant), Zen Mind, Beginner's Mind: Informal Talks on Zen Meditation and Practice (B.J. Armstrong), Way of the Peaceful Warrior (Craig Hodges), On the Road (Will Perdue), and Beavis & Butt-Head: This Book Sucks (Stacey King).
* * * * *
Working with Mumford, Michael adopted a new way of leading based on what worked best with each player. With some players, he decided, he would get physical, either by demonstrating what needed to be done with his body or, in Scottie's case, simply by being present. "Scottie was one of those guys for whom I had to be there every single day," says Michael. "If I took a day off, he would take a day off. But if I was there every single day, he would follow." With other players -- Dennis in particular -- Michael would go emotional. "You couldn't yell at Dennis," he says. "You had to find a way to get into his world for a few quick seconds so he could understand what you were saying." With still others, Michael would communicate primarily on a verbal level. Example: Scott Burrell, a forward on the 1997-98 Bulls. "I could yell at him and he would get it," says Michael, "but it didn't hurt his confidence at all."
* * * * *
Tex Winter used to say that our successful championship runs were usually triggered by one game in which we completely dominated our opponents from beginning to end.
* * * * *
As a leader your job is to do everything in your power to create the perfect conditions for success by benching your ego and inspiring your team to play the game the right way. But at some point, you need to let go and turn yourself over to the basketball gods. The soul of success is surrendering to what is.
November 10, 2015
There was much less about practical coaching and management wisdom than I hoped for in this book. It's not evident that Jackson is reading and learning from other management and leadership works himself, or other coaches other than those who have already been with him for years. He quotes a few Buddhist works or proverbs but that's about it, so I found him to be pretty intellectually shallow despite being famous for giving his players books. "The soul of success is surrendering to what is" is supposed to mean something. Rather late in his career, after a few seasons with Kobe Bryant, Jackson writes he contacted a psychologist for advice. The advice seemed superficial at best "focus on positive reinforcement" and Jackson didn't use it long. This kind of helter skelter application of shallow psychology doesn't strike me as very well-educated or thoughtful.
Jackson learned a lot of his coaching from Red Holzman while playing for the Knicks. One lesson from Holzman was when asked the difference between winning and losing: "I go home, drink a scotch, and enjoy the delicious meal my wife is cooking." Jackson returns back to the Zen proverb of what one does both before and after enlightenment: Chop wood, carry water. Jackson revels in breaking Holzman rival Red Auerbach's championship record.
There are a few points Jackson makes up front about how he tried to instill teamwork into the Bulls and Lakers. One that stood out was: "Turn the mundane into the sacred." Rituals build unity, this is reminiscent of Charles Duhig's The Power of Habit. For example, Jackson has his teams stand in a circle before and after practice, everything in a circle. He calls the team area the "tribal room," etc. Sometimes he even led tense Laker teams in silent moments to synchronize their breath. He is famous for giving his players books on road trips, and he recounts which books he gave which players. This practice has earned Jackson the reputation as being somehow book smart, whereas as I point out elsewhere that doesn't really seem to be the case.
Generally, there doesn't appear much that sets apart Jackson from other coaches other than the rings. Having read books by other championship coaches I was interested to see if there were any lessons or daily principles they follow. The only constant with Jackson appears to be meditation for stress relief and emotional regulation. But the meditation doesn't help his anger issues and he deals with years of repressed anger after his daughter is assaulted and Kobe Bryant is arrested on similar charges. His parents were Pentecostals who erroneously taught him that "anger was wrong" (Jesus got angry plenty, after all), and this had harmful consequences for him. Given some of his other behavior, I find his method of zen meditation rather unappealing and incomplete. He's had broken marriage, a range of ups and downs with his players and management, and I don't see any particular reason for his success other than acquiring big-market talent. Sometimes that talent agreed to work together and with him, at other times it didn't. He had issues with management at every stop.
One omission that stands out is any praise for other coaches like Gregg Popovich of the Spurs who consistently beat the Lakers with the non-flashy, team basketball that Jackson apparently espouses. But Popovich and co. don't get nearly the media attention or the book deals. The only coaches Jackson praises are those on teams that he beats, like the staff of Larry Bird's Pacers. He clearly dislikes Pat Riley. He doesn't praise any of the teams that beat the ego-driven Lakers, or admit the contradiction of humbler teams dismantling his own.
Last year I listened to Ronald Lazenby's biography of Michael Jordan, so I had a vivid picture in my mind of Jackson's years with the Bulls and was eager to hear his own take. Jackson's version of those years is pretty scrubbed or wasn't much I hadn't heard before. Jackson inherited a Bulls team that was peaking under the greatest and most competitive player who ever lived. He doesn't have much negative to say about anyone in Chicago other than Jerry Krauss. In Lazenby's book, he claims (from one of Phil's other books?) that Jackson leaked dirt on Jordan for Sam Smith's book The Jordan Rules. The book infuriated Jordan and Jackson apparently had done so to motivate him. An assistant coach took the heat and got fired. Jackson simply writes in Eleven Rings that he tried to save the assistant coach. Contra Lazenby's account, Jordan isn't found on the back of the team bus drinking beer with Ron Harper while relentlessly haranguing Krauss after games. In Eleven Rings, it's Scottie Pippen who once gets drunk and tells off management. Jordan comes across as somewhat selfish, but is contrasted later as much more selfless than Kobe Bryant, who Jackson had a real feud with. Jackson recounts a funny story of a team manager assigned to watch Rodman during a road trip and the cross-country adventure he took him on. In the end, the Bulls players hated their management and the management couldn't afford to pay them all.
Jackson seems to have a difficult time communicating with his players, and on at least one occasion in the book an assistant pulls him aside to correct him. Jackson provides no insights on how he chose his assistants (other than Tex Winter), mentors them, delegates tasks, etc. They just exist in the background. Jackson plays the media against his players sometimes, leaking things or making side remarks to the media that enrage his players; Kobe made it a condition of playing for him in his last stint with the Lakers that he "be more discreet with the media." Then Jackson reacts incredulously when a player gives an interview blasting his teammates and angst ensues.
Jackson's attempt to "bring the Buddha" to the Lakers for a championship is somewhat amusing but definitely not a magical experience. Kobe Bryant is vilified as an immature, selfish jerk. Then, later noted for being a good teammate and talking like someone who meditates and has found his inner self. Kobe admits that Phil is right and that he grew as a person. Then, we go back to Kobe the selfish jerk who yells at teammates to "give me the damn ball" and causes the team to self-destruct.
Jackson makes no secret of favoring Shaq, creating a rift between himself and Jerry Buss and Kobe Bryant by demanding they trade Kobe. This despite the fact that Shaq shows up overweight and out of shape every fall and takes half the season to get back to form every year, something Kobe couldn't stand. After one year of working together, Shaq and Bryant decide they can't coexist. Jackson introduces Shaq to Sidartha to warn him away from materialism; an unrepentant Shaq writes a book report.
Maybe as the last dig at Kobe, Jackson writes a paragraph comparing him with Michael Jordan. Jordan was stronger, making him a better defender and rebounder. He was a less-selfish teammate and found other ways to help his team when his shot wasn't falling. He shot a higher FG% (partly by driving more to the basket) at his peak and only relied on his fadeaway in the later years. Kobe, on the other hand, relies on his jumper more and shoots a lower FG%. He famously doesn't pass the ball if he wants his shot and doesn't play defense with any great intensity. Rick Fox apparently wrote that Kobe competes with himself and didn't behave the same way off the court as on, while MJ was competitive in everything non-stop.
I give this book 2 stars out of 5. If you're an avid Lakers and Bulls fan you might want this book, but you've probably already read what's in it. There are no great insights into managing a coaching staff or finding a way to maximize the strengths of your team to win if you don't have Hall of Fame talent on it.
Jackson learned a lot of his coaching from Red Holzman while playing for the Knicks. One lesson from Holzman was when asked the difference between winning and losing: "I go home, drink a scotch, and enjoy the delicious meal my wife is cooking." Jackson returns back to the Zen proverb of what one does both before and after enlightenment: Chop wood, carry water. Jackson revels in breaking Holzman rival Red Auerbach's championship record.
There are a few points Jackson makes up front about how he tried to instill teamwork into the Bulls and Lakers. One that stood out was: "Turn the mundane into the sacred." Rituals build unity, this is reminiscent of Charles Duhig's The Power of Habit. For example, Jackson has his teams stand in a circle before and after practice, everything in a circle. He calls the team area the "tribal room," etc. Sometimes he even led tense Laker teams in silent moments to synchronize their breath. He is famous for giving his players books on road trips, and he recounts which books he gave which players. This practice has earned Jackson the reputation as being somehow book smart, whereas as I point out elsewhere that doesn't really seem to be the case.
Generally, there doesn't appear much that sets apart Jackson from other coaches other than the rings. Having read books by other championship coaches I was interested to see if there were any lessons or daily principles they follow. The only constant with Jackson appears to be meditation for stress relief and emotional regulation. But the meditation doesn't help his anger issues and he deals with years of repressed anger after his daughter is assaulted and Kobe Bryant is arrested on similar charges. His parents were Pentecostals who erroneously taught him that "anger was wrong" (Jesus got angry plenty, after all), and this had harmful consequences for him. Given some of his other behavior, I find his method of zen meditation rather unappealing and incomplete. He's had broken marriage, a range of ups and downs with his players and management, and I don't see any particular reason for his success other than acquiring big-market talent. Sometimes that talent agreed to work together and with him, at other times it didn't. He had issues with management at every stop.
One omission that stands out is any praise for other coaches like Gregg Popovich of the Spurs who consistently beat the Lakers with the non-flashy, team basketball that Jackson apparently espouses. But Popovich and co. don't get nearly the media attention or the book deals. The only coaches Jackson praises are those on teams that he beats, like the staff of Larry Bird's Pacers. He clearly dislikes Pat Riley. He doesn't praise any of the teams that beat the ego-driven Lakers, or admit the contradiction of humbler teams dismantling his own.
Last year I listened to Ronald Lazenby's biography of Michael Jordan, so I had a vivid picture in my mind of Jackson's years with the Bulls and was eager to hear his own take. Jackson's version of those years is pretty scrubbed or wasn't much I hadn't heard before. Jackson inherited a Bulls team that was peaking under the greatest and most competitive player who ever lived. He doesn't have much negative to say about anyone in Chicago other than Jerry Krauss. In Lazenby's book, he claims (from one of Phil's other books?) that Jackson leaked dirt on Jordan for Sam Smith's book The Jordan Rules. The book infuriated Jordan and Jackson apparently had done so to motivate him. An assistant coach took the heat and got fired. Jackson simply writes in Eleven Rings that he tried to save the assistant coach. Contra Lazenby's account, Jordan isn't found on the back of the team bus drinking beer with Ron Harper while relentlessly haranguing Krauss after games. In Eleven Rings, it's Scottie Pippen who once gets drunk and tells off management. Jordan comes across as somewhat selfish, but is contrasted later as much more selfless than Kobe Bryant, who Jackson had a real feud with. Jackson recounts a funny story of a team manager assigned to watch Rodman during a road trip and the cross-country adventure he took him on. In the end, the Bulls players hated their management and the management couldn't afford to pay them all.
Jackson seems to have a difficult time communicating with his players, and on at least one occasion in the book an assistant pulls him aside to correct him. Jackson provides no insights on how he chose his assistants (other than Tex Winter), mentors them, delegates tasks, etc. They just exist in the background. Jackson plays the media against his players sometimes, leaking things or making side remarks to the media that enrage his players; Kobe made it a condition of playing for him in his last stint with the Lakers that he "be more discreet with the media." Then Jackson reacts incredulously when a player gives an interview blasting his teammates and angst ensues.
Jackson's attempt to "bring the Buddha" to the Lakers for a championship is somewhat amusing but definitely not a magical experience. Kobe Bryant is vilified as an immature, selfish jerk. Then, later noted for being a good teammate and talking like someone who meditates and has found his inner self. Kobe admits that Phil is right and that he grew as a person. Then, we go back to Kobe the selfish jerk who yells at teammates to "give me the damn ball" and causes the team to self-destruct.
Jackson makes no secret of favoring Shaq, creating a rift between himself and Jerry Buss and Kobe Bryant by demanding they trade Kobe. This despite the fact that Shaq shows up overweight and out of shape every fall and takes half the season to get back to form every year, something Kobe couldn't stand. After one year of working together, Shaq and Bryant decide they can't coexist. Jackson introduces Shaq to Sidartha to warn him away from materialism; an unrepentant Shaq writes a book report.
Maybe as the last dig at Kobe, Jackson writes a paragraph comparing him with Michael Jordan. Jordan was stronger, making him a better defender and rebounder. He was a less-selfish teammate and found other ways to help his team when his shot wasn't falling. He shot a higher FG% (partly by driving more to the basket) at his peak and only relied on his fadeaway in the later years. Kobe, on the other hand, relies on his jumper more and shoots a lower FG%. He famously doesn't pass the ball if he wants his shot and doesn't play defense with any great intensity. Rick Fox apparently wrote that Kobe competes with himself and didn't behave the same way off the court as on, while MJ was competitive in everything non-stop.
I give this book 2 stars out of 5. If you're an avid Lakers and Bulls fan you might want this book, but you've probably already read what's in it. There are no great insights into managing a coaching staff or finding a way to maximize the strengths of your team to win if you don't have Hall of Fame talent on it.
May 27, 2013
This latest installment of Phil Jackson's war stories presents his sports career, first as a double NBA champion with the New York Knicks, then as an eleven-time NBA champion (the current record) with Michael Jordan's Chicago Bulls and Shaquille O'Neal/Kobe Bryant's LA Lakers. The book covers this phenomenal career, but also focuses on Phil Jackson's life philosophy--a combination of Zen Buddhism, Native American (animist? tribal?) beliefs, and bits and pieces of common sense. Overall, good for fans of Phil Jackson's work, but rather repetitive and presumptuous.
The eleven championship-winning and the several unsuccessful runs are described at very high level. Jackson focuses on one, maybe two key moments---a match, a shot---for each. What I liked here was the selection of the moment, which would have avoided most anyone not amidst the team, and the discussion about selling the job to the bunch of superstar, alpha characters in the team. Jackson admits to mistakes and dissects his failures, and passes managerial judgment on many of his former players and associates. There is nothing particularly explosive, although the treatment of Jordan (admiration) and Kobe (love/hate) reveals much of Jackson the man.
The technical discussion about the triangle offense, a trademark of Jackson's basketball strategy---is unfortunately not developed enough and thus a let down. The philosophical part of the book is even more superficial and could perhaps have better been left out of this book entirely.
The eleven championship-winning and the several unsuccessful runs are described at very high level. Jackson focuses on one, maybe two key moments---a match, a shot---for each. What I liked here was the selection of the moment, which would have avoided most anyone not amidst the team, and the discussion about selling the job to the bunch of superstar, alpha characters in the team. Jackson admits to mistakes and dissects his failures, and passes managerial judgment on many of his former players and associates. There is nothing particularly explosive, although the treatment of Jordan (admiration) and Kobe (love/hate) reveals much of Jackson the man.
The technical discussion about the triangle offense, a trademark of Jackson's basketball strategy---is unfortunately not developed enough and thus a let down. The philosophical part of the book is even more superficial and could perhaps have better been left out of this book entirely.
June 6, 2020
As somebody who grew up in the UK, basketball isn’t a sport I was surrounded by. My husband however is a huge fan and after watching “The last dance” with him and finding it really interesting, I decided that I wanted to learn more about the man who lead the Chicago Bulls to multiple successes. (It’s the entrepreneur in me)
This book is a great read and provides such profound insight into leadership and spirituality and what an important part they play in gaining momentum and achieving success. I love that Phil Jackson uses his story to share what he has learnt with us. I feel really fortunate to have read this book without in-depth basketball knowledge, as it enabled me to see the message between the lines :)
A fab read and one I recommend to all, no matter if you are a basketball fan or not.
This book is a great read and provides such profound insight into leadership and spirituality and what an important part they play in gaining momentum and achieving success. I love that Phil Jackson uses his story to share what he has learnt with us. I feel really fortunate to have read this book without in-depth basketball knowledge, as it enabled me to see the message between the lines :)
A fab read and one I recommend to all, no matter if you are a basketball fan or not.
February 20, 2023
This book was cool, I have a huge amount of respect for Phil, I just wish the book went deeper. Not just a chapter on each of the bulls championship seasons with a little story or tid bit about Rodman or Pippen or Kobe here and there. The book could have really dived into who each of these people were ok a spiritual level. The whole spiritual / native American stuff is so interesting.
August 10, 2020
One of the most important books I've read in my life. Phil Jackson is the "zen guy", the hippie man that talks about being selfless, meditation and mindfulness while swimming with sharks; he would be the easiest guy to parody, except he happens to be the most successful NBA coach in history. Eleven rings: 6 with the Bulls, 5 with Lakers. Besides the amazing story, Jackson did an amazing job in explaining his life philosophy. It's easier to try to be a good guy after watching the steps (and missteps) Jackson took in his career. It absolutely debunks the "you have to do whatever it takes to win" myth that's typically used to justify being an a**hole with those around you.
It's a book about how to deal with pressure while staying true to oneself. It has a lot of practical tips, and it came in a time of my life when I needed it the most.
This one is definitely in my top 10 of all time.
It's a book about how to deal with pressure while staying true to oneself. It has a lot of practical tips, and it came in a time of my life when I needed it the most.
This one is definitely in my top 10 of all time.
September 26, 2021
Le doy 5 estrellas porque como fan del baloncesto y especialmente de los Lakers, este libro me hizo recordar algunos momentos de gloria que tuvo el equipo en sus campeonatos, así como conocer parte de la historia que desconocía, el ver la trayectoria de Jordan pero especialmente la de Kobe y ver que en sus inicios era un Kobe, inmaduro, arrogante y con mucho ego muy diferente al que conocí en el 2008 el cual trabajaba en equipo y con una mentalidad madura, muy diferente a sus inicios. También me causa nostalgia recordarlo a través de este libro.
Sin duda Phil Jackson es uno de los mejores entrenadores en el baloncesto, mismo que trajó victorias a dos grandes equipos en la historia y que formó grandes jugadores como lo son Kobe, Jordan, Shaq, Pipen y Rodman.
Sin duda Phil Jackson es uno de los mejores entrenadores en el baloncesto, mismo que trajó victorias a dos grandes equipos en la historia y que formó grandes jugadores como lo son Kobe, Jordan, Shaq, Pipen y Rodman.
March 8, 2015
This was a good read & I think all basketball fans would enjoy it whether or not you like(d) the Bulls or the Lakers - As a big basketball fan, particularly of MJ & the Bulls' 90s dynasty, I've always been a Phil Jackson fan. With 11 championships, he's obviously done some things right. This provides a look at each season as well as some simply stated but effective leadership lessons Phil learned and applied, which can be applied in other non-sports situations as well.
June 13, 2020
Să câștigi 13 campionate NBA în cariera de jucător și antrenor înseamnă să ai un plan care funcționează. Cartea explică filozofia folosită de Phil Jackson ca antrenor, cât și relațiile sale cu jucătorii pe care i-a condus, plus momentele cheie din campionate.
Pentru mine a fost ca o călătorie în spatele cortinei, în care am cunoscut un mare lider și strateg de la care am învățat câteva lucruri importante.
Pentru mine a fost ca o călătorie în spatele cortinei, în care am cunoscut un mare lider și strateg de la care am învățat câteva lucruri importante.
August 1, 2022
LIbro que mezcla la parte biográfica deportiva del autor y sus conceptos de como se debe gestionar un grupo lleno de líderes y egos, punto igual de importante para el autor que la propia gestión deportiva.
Quien se espere un libro lleno de basquet, no es este el libro que está buscando, si que encontrará mucha filosofia sobretodo el tao y zen aplicada a la gestión de grupo y la mejora que puede aportar en la práctica deportiva profesional.
Quien se espere un libro lleno de basquet, no es este el libro que está buscando, si que encontrará mucha filosofia sobretodo el tao y zen aplicada a la gestión de grupo y la mejora que puede aportar en la práctica deportiva profesional.
January 12, 2020
The first half of this book is amazing. Lots of philosophy, religion, psychology, and how it informed his approach to leadership. Second half pivots to a more straight forward re-telling of his championship runs, with bits of his philosophy sparsely peppered in. Still really enjoyable for any fan of the NBA.
December 19, 2020
Phil Jackson gives a great lesson in leadership with his book, Eleven Rings. His willingness to take risks and use the concepts of Zen and native American greatness in his leadership is inspiring. Jackson talks at length about harmony and team integration, but less about how individual players practice and make themselves ready for the game. While one is a prerequisite to the other, he only focuses on one of them. Regardless, it is a great book and his knowledge of Zen concepts shows itself and impresses the reader.
June 30, 2025
Although I know close to nothing about basketball, reading this book enlightened me in many aspects of life, not just the ones related to the sport. It's a great experience to read it while listening to Phil Jackson's wise voice in your head.
June 7, 2019
ספרו האוטוביוגרפי של המאמן המעוטר ביותר בתולדות ליגת האן בי איי. ספר חובה לכל חובבי הספורט הקבוצתי בכלל והכדורסל בפרט.
לקראת סוף הספר מורגש כי ג׳קסון כבר רצה לסיימו ולכן החלק האחרון בספר פחות טוב אבל למרות זאת ארבעה כוכבים לספר מסוג זה מגיע לו.
לקראת סוף הספר מורגש כי ג׳קסון כבר רצה לסיימו ולכן החלק האחרון בספר פחות טוב אבל למרות זאת ארבעה כוכבים לספר מסוג זה מגיע לו.
May 24, 2020
4.75 Stars - The Zen master himself, a man I thought I knew a considerable amount about already. Boy was I wrong. Phil Jackson is a life poet, a man of compassion, empathy on a level most people aren’t even aware exists in other people. Always measured, never arbitrary forever cogitating on what it is he can do to be more to others, to grow as near a man in shoes that’s both long since perished or that is long yet due. Whether it’s Native American culture & lore or understanding the fluidity of one life to the next, Phil Jackson assumes nothing & is a picture of learned behaviour, but learnedness of a kind we only wish was more common. Learned in a way that enables understanding in fellow man.
This book only adds to the impossible conundrum, was Phil lucky to have had the likes MJ/Kobe/Shaq, would he be half the coach he was if he didn’t have them at his beach and call? Or were they lucky to have had a coach such as Phil, that enabled them a system & culture to win on a consistent basis? I suspect the answer is neither, that’s it’s an eco-system of all the above, but one thing is for certain, Phil Jackson is unique beast, or as he would say, a ‘Heyoka’ - He who walks backwards when all others walk forwards.
This book only adds to the impossible conundrum, was Phil lucky to have had the likes MJ/Kobe/Shaq, would he be half the coach he was if he didn’t have them at his beach and call? Or were they lucky to have had a coach such as Phil, that enabled them a system & culture to win on a consistent basis? I suspect the answer is neither, that’s it’s an eco-system of all the above, but one thing is for certain, Phil Jackson is unique beast, or as he would say, a ‘Heyoka’ - He who walks backwards when all others walk forwards.
June 14, 2022
Whoo wheee I loved reading this book. I found it so interesting and was also very entertained.
I grew up watching Phil Jackson coach the Bulls against my beloved mid-late 90’s Utah Jazz. I looked at him as little more than the opposition and had lots of preconceived ideas about what he must be like as a person and coach.
A few years ago, I heard him interviewed by Oprah Winfrey and realized Phil Jackson was way different than I thought he was. Nicknamed the “Zen Master,” Phil integrates a variety of Eastern, Buddhist philosophy with Western, American Indian Beliefs to create a basketball environment focused on mindfulness and unity. I enjoyed hearing his beliefs on topics such as leadership, unity and sacrifice that he utilized to coach 11 NBA championship teams. He did a lot of interesting things like pass out books to players for their “summer reading” assignments, practice in the dark or in complete silence.
I was also so entertained by his various interactions with superstar players. There were some really touching moments and hilarious ones too (think Shaquille O’Neal unexpectedly bouncing on a tramp with your kids when you come home 😂)
I love the way he ended the book—I won’t share it here but I thought it was poignant and meaningful.
This was such a fun, nostalgic read for me.
I grew up watching Phil Jackson coach the Bulls against my beloved mid-late 90’s Utah Jazz. I looked at him as little more than the opposition and had lots of preconceived ideas about what he must be like as a person and coach.
A few years ago, I heard him interviewed by Oprah Winfrey and realized Phil Jackson was way different than I thought he was. Nicknamed the “Zen Master,” Phil integrates a variety of Eastern, Buddhist philosophy with Western, American Indian Beliefs to create a basketball environment focused on mindfulness and unity. I enjoyed hearing his beliefs on topics such as leadership, unity and sacrifice that he utilized to coach 11 NBA championship teams. He did a lot of interesting things like pass out books to players for their “summer reading” assignments, practice in the dark or in complete silence.
I was also so entertained by his various interactions with superstar players. There were some really touching moments and hilarious ones too (think Shaquille O’Neal unexpectedly bouncing on a tramp with your kids when you come home 😂)
I love the way he ended the book—I won’t share it here but I thought it was poignant and meaningful.
This was such a fun, nostalgic read for me.
November 22, 2021
I never would have thought a book about the jewelry what a man wears on his finger could be so inspirin. the book made me want to be a part of Jackson's bulls or Jackson's lakers so as I could have some rings too. I know some men that have rings only they just have wives to show for em and they complain all the time about the things they're wives say to em' like"pick up the kids at the dang basketball practice" or "don't leave the toilet seat up no more." But see the toilet is a ring just like the ones on Phil's digits, just like the one that the basketball goes through when points are scored. I have seen many of my team's seasons go through that ring those men's wives were yelling about. I say read this book if you want to be more zen about working on a team or with a team or for a team.
May 9, 2025
I really enjoyed the balance of sports memoir and zen teachings in this. There were a few sections that dragged a bit and I’m not a Bulls or Lakers fan so I wasn’t fully invested in the teams’ runs for Championship rings but I adored the descriptions of the games and player dynamics. My dad is the only person I’d recommend this to lol as you definitely have to be a basketball nut to enjoy this.
April 9, 2017
Absolutely incredible book. I highly recommend it to anyone venturing into a leadership role or anyone that would like to further their thoughts on spirituality and it's role in building a team. I can't say enough about how important this book has been for me at a very pivotal point in my career.
July 27, 2022
Η πορεία του Φιλ Τζάκσον μέσα από τις σεζόν του ως προπονητής NBA που τον οδήγησε σε 11 τίτλους, με έμφαση σε κάποιες κομβικές στιγμές της κάθε αγωνιστικής χρονιάς. Ξεκούραστο ανάγνωσμα, λίγο αυτοβιογραφία, λίγο μάνατζμεντ, λίγο φιλοσοφία, λίγο ψυχολογία αλλά το κάτι παραπάνω έλειπε.
April 6, 2025
Had a great time listening to the Zen Master’s personal perspective and philosophy while coaching arguably the most influential NBA teams in history!
April 9, 2025
Facilitating a space where people can unapologetically be themselves is the true purpose of a coach
July 20, 2025
Despite not being an author by trade, Jackson paints a great picture of his coaching journey.
July 22, 2013
Review:
Phil Jackson has proven with his previous books that he is as skilled a writer as he is a basketball coach, and he shows it again with “Eleven Rings.” This book is mostly a recap of his coaching stints with both the Chicago Bulls and Los Angeles Lakers. He talks about what he had to do to take these teams that were loaded with talent and make them blend together into a cohesive team in order to win all those championships.
There are some aspects of leadership that books about business leadership use. However, Jackson will put a unique spin on how he might use this model, so that it becomes clear that he is not doing this from a manual, but instead putting his own perspective and methods into the work he does with his teams. One of these is that he often refers to his teams as a “tribe” and each member of the tribe will know what his role is in order for the goals to be achieved.
What I liked best about Jackson’s sharing of his coaching secrets was how he treated different individuals differently. He realized that one method will not work for everyone, and because his teams had so many superstars with egos to match their talent, he worked on each individual in methods to which the certain player would most respond positively.
Jackson described how he did this with his superstar players on each team – Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippen and Dennis Rodman on the Bulls, Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O’Neal on the Lakers. I thought the best example of this was how Jackson handled a situation with Pippen during the 1994 playoffs, when the Bulls were playing without Jordan who had gone into his first retirement.
Pippen was supposed to inbound a pass to Toni Kukoc for a last second shot in a playoff game against the New York Knicks. Pippen was not happy to have this role for the play and refused to leave the bench after a time out. Jackson made a quick substitution for Pippen. Kukoc made the shot, the Bulls won the game, and the coaching staff decided on what to do about Pippen. After one assistant coach told Pippen it was a bad move (in much saltier language), the team said the Lord’s Prayer, Pippen apologized to his teammates with tears in his eyes, and everyone got a turn to state how they felt. That doesn’t sound like much when a team leader says no to the coach in such a crucial time, but because Jackson knew that this type of action would affect Pippen greater than a fine or suspension, that is what Jackson did.
It is stories like this, the manner in which Jackson treats his player and most importantly, how he articulates this in the book is why I believe this is a book that would be enjoyed by readers of all types, whether or not they are sports fans. The personal stories in this book are refreshing, not judgmental, and a source of great information on some of the biggest names in basketball history. Excellent book.
Did I skim?
No
Did I learn something new?
Yes. While I did know of some of the more well-publicized events of Jackson’s teams, such as how he handled Scottie Pippen’s meltdown in the 1994 playoffs or when the Lakers didn’t immediately offer him new contracts, the manner in which Jackson handled these situations was telling. These passages delved much deeper than what was told in the media. The best of these was how he handled Scottie Pippen’s situation, which is detailed in the review.
Pace of the book:
Very good. It moved along nicely and stayed in chronological order, which is something I appreciate.
Positives:
The manner in which Jackson describes how he handled many of his players, especially his best players such as Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O’Neal was the strength of this book. I also liked that it stuck mostly with basketball-related issues. Jackson certainly did talk about literature, spiritual life and other such topics, but instead of full chapters devoted to these topics, he mentioned them as they related to his teams and/or coaching.
Negatives:
At times, I found Jackson to come across as condescending toward other teams, players and coaches that may not have achieved the same level of success as he has achieved. That has been a consistent characteristic mentioned by Jackson’s distracters over the years, and it seems to show in this book. Not enough to be blatant or libelous but it does appear nonetheless. I also found a few typos and spelling errors, especially of some opponents’ names.
Do I recommend?
Yes, especially for basketball fans. However, I think that fans of other sports and even some readers who may not be sports fans, but want to see how successful leaders build teams would like this book.
Phil Jackson has proven with his previous books that he is as skilled a writer as he is a basketball coach, and he shows it again with “Eleven Rings.” This book is mostly a recap of his coaching stints with both the Chicago Bulls and Los Angeles Lakers. He talks about what he had to do to take these teams that were loaded with talent and make them blend together into a cohesive team in order to win all those championships.
There are some aspects of leadership that books about business leadership use. However, Jackson will put a unique spin on how he might use this model, so that it becomes clear that he is not doing this from a manual, but instead putting his own perspective and methods into the work he does with his teams. One of these is that he often refers to his teams as a “tribe” and each member of the tribe will know what his role is in order for the goals to be achieved.
What I liked best about Jackson’s sharing of his coaching secrets was how he treated different individuals differently. He realized that one method will not work for everyone, and because his teams had so many superstars with egos to match their talent, he worked on each individual in methods to which the certain player would most respond positively.
Jackson described how he did this with his superstar players on each team – Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippen and Dennis Rodman on the Bulls, Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O’Neal on the Lakers. I thought the best example of this was how Jackson handled a situation with Pippen during the 1994 playoffs, when the Bulls were playing without Jordan who had gone into his first retirement.
Pippen was supposed to inbound a pass to Toni Kukoc for a last second shot in a playoff game against the New York Knicks. Pippen was not happy to have this role for the play and refused to leave the bench after a time out. Jackson made a quick substitution for Pippen. Kukoc made the shot, the Bulls won the game, and the coaching staff decided on what to do about Pippen. After one assistant coach told Pippen it was a bad move (in much saltier language), the team said the Lord’s Prayer, Pippen apologized to his teammates with tears in his eyes, and everyone got a turn to state how they felt. That doesn’t sound like much when a team leader says no to the coach in such a crucial time, but because Jackson knew that this type of action would affect Pippen greater than a fine or suspension, that is what Jackson did.
It is stories like this, the manner in which Jackson treats his player and most importantly, how he articulates this in the book is why I believe this is a book that would be enjoyed by readers of all types, whether or not they are sports fans. The personal stories in this book are refreshing, not judgmental, and a source of great information on some of the biggest names in basketball history. Excellent book.
Did I skim?
No
Did I learn something new?
Yes. While I did know of some of the more well-publicized events of Jackson’s teams, such as how he handled Scottie Pippen’s meltdown in the 1994 playoffs or when the Lakers didn’t immediately offer him new contracts, the manner in which Jackson handled these situations was telling. These passages delved much deeper than what was told in the media. The best of these was how he handled Scottie Pippen’s situation, which is detailed in the review.
Pace of the book:
Very good. It moved along nicely and stayed in chronological order, which is something I appreciate.
Positives:
The manner in which Jackson describes how he handled many of his players, especially his best players such as Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O’Neal was the strength of this book. I also liked that it stuck mostly with basketball-related issues. Jackson certainly did talk about literature, spiritual life and other such topics, but instead of full chapters devoted to these topics, he mentioned them as they related to his teams and/or coaching.
Negatives:
At times, I found Jackson to come across as condescending toward other teams, players and coaches that may not have achieved the same level of success as he has achieved. That has been a consistent characteristic mentioned by Jackson’s distracters over the years, and it seems to show in this book. Not enough to be blatant or libelous but it does appear nonetheless. I also found a few typos and spelling errors, especially of some opponents’ names.
Do I recommend?
Yes, especially for basketball fans. However, I think that fans of other sports and even some readers who may not be sports fans, but want to see how successful leaders build teams would like this book.
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