Phil Jackson 6× NBA Championships as Coach
The Zen Master with a record 11 NBA championships as head coach.
Phil Jackson is an American former professional basketball player, coach, and executive in the NBA. He is a 13-time NBA champion, having won two as a player and eleven as a head coach. His eleven championships as a head coach are the most in NBA history.
- Role
- Head Coach
- Team Affiliation
- Chicago Bulls
- Championships Won
- 6
- Dynasty Structure
- Two consecutive three-peats (1991–1993, 1996–1998)
- Key Players Coached
- Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippen, Dennis Rodman
- Coaching Philosophy
- Triangle Offense, Zen Buddhism principles
Lore & Background
Jackson was born in Deer Lodge, Montana, on September 17, 1945. He played college basketball for the North Dakota Fighting Sioux (now Fighting Hawks) for three years. He was drafted by the New York Knicks in 1967 and won two NBA titles as a player. After thirteen seasons as a player, he coached in minor leagues for five years before becoming an assistant coach for the Chicago Bulls in 1987. He was promoted to head coach of the Bulls in 1989 and led them to six championships (1991–1993, 1996–1998). He later coached the Los Angeles Lakers to three consecutive titles (2000–2002) and two more (2009, 2010). He was team president of the New York Knicks from 2014 to 2017.
In Their Own Story
On the bench, Phil Jackson didn't shout; his eyes closed for a heartbeat, filtering out the chaos to find the quiet center. A subtle tap against his temple signaled the shift: *Triangle*. Michael Jordan caught the ball at the elbow, his gaze scanning not the hoop but the defense's collapse. With a barely perceptible nod to Scottie Pippen slicing from the weak side, the play unfolded—a well-rehearsed dance of geometry and instinct. The pass found its mark, the shot dropped through the net, and as the buzzer screamed, Jackson allowed himself a rare, ghost of a smile. The chess match was won again.
Reader's Guide
Jackson is known for using Tex Winter's triangle offense and a holistic coaching approach influenced by Eastern philosophy, earning him the nickname 'Zen Master'. He cited Robert Pirsig's book Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance as a major guiding force. He also applied Native American spiritual practices as documented in his book Sacred Hoops.
Did You Know?
- Jackson was a top reserve on the Knicks' 1973 championship team.
- He won his first coaching championship with the Albany Patroons of the CBA in 1984.
- Jackson convinced Michael Jordan to adopt the triangle offense to counter the Pistons' Jordan Rules.
- The Bulls set a regular season record of 72-10 in 1995–96.
More in Honours & Records
Elsewhere in the Chicago Bulls universe
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