11 Best Phil Jackson Quotes, Former NBA Player and Coach

Below is a Quick Bio and the 11 Best Quotes from Phil Jackson:

Quick Bio

Phil Jackson is an American former NBA player and coach, who was born in 1945 in Montana. Jackson played college basketball at the University of North Dakota from 1964–1967. In 1967, he was drafted in the second round by the New York Knicks. He played there until 1978, when he moved to the New Jersey Nets until 1980.

In 1982, Jackson started coaching basketball in Puerto Rico. In 1987, he made his NBA debut as an assistant coach for the Chicago Bulls. He elevated to head coach from 1989–1998. Finally, Jackson was head coach for the Los Angeles Lakers from 1999–2011.

As a coach, Jackson won 11x NBA Championships and was the NBA Coach of the Year in 1996.

11 Best Quotes

1. “The strength of the team lies within the individual. And the strength of the individual lies within the team”
2. “You can’t force your will on people. If you want them to act differently, you need to inspire them to change themselves”
3. “In basketball — as in life — true joy comes from being fully present in each and every moment, not just when things are going your way”
4. “Winning is important to me, but what brings me real joy is the experience of being fully engaged in whatever I’m doing”
5. “Leadership is not about forcing your will on others. It’s about mastering the art of letting go”
6. “A coach’s main job is to reawaken a spirit in which the players can blend together effortlessly”
7. “Before a vision (dream) can become a reality, it must be owned by every member of the group”
8. “The sign of a great player is how much he elevates his colleagues’ performance”
9. “You’re only a success for the moment that you complete a successful act”
10. “Make your work your play and your play your work”
11. “If you have a clear mind… you won’t have to search for direction. Direction will come to you”

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