Phil Jackson Quotes

Author Image

Phil Jackson

Profession : Coach

Birth : September 17, 1945

Wisdom is always an overmatch for strength.

Phil Jackson

Always keep an open mind and a compassionate heart.

Phil Jackson

Your problems never cease. They just change.

Phil Jackson

Approach the game with no preset agendas and you'll probably come away surprised at your overall efforts.

Phil Jackson

My philosophy is that you don't motivate players with speeches; you have motivated players that you draft. That's where they come in, and those are the guys that are competitive. You can not teach competitiveness.

Phil Jackson

If you meet the Buddha in the lane, feed him the ball.

Phil Jackson

Love is the force that ignites the spirit and binds teams together.

Phil Jackson

I think the most important thing about coaching is that you have to have a sense of confidence about what you're doing.

Phil Jackson

Basketball is a simple game. Your goal is penetration, get the ball close to the basket, and there are three ways to do that. Pass, dribble and offensive rebound.

Phil Jackson

I think the most rewarding part of the job, and I think most coaches would say it, is practice. If you have it, a very good practice in which you have 12 guys participate, and they can really get something out of it, lose themselves in practice.

Phil Jackson

My father was the superintendent of the churches in the state of Montana. He was content in his beliefs. He befit the term 'true Christian.' He would turn the other cheek. He was truly a man of peace.

Phil Jackson

I think the most important thing about coaching is that you have to have a sense of confidence about what you're doing. You have to be a salesman, and you have to get your players, particularly your leaders, to believe in what you're trying to accomplish on the basketball floor.

Phil Jackson

I'm not going to coach again. I've done my coaching, and I think I can put that aside.

Phil Jackson

For us tall people, the whole key is that your hips and your knees should form a right angle when you sit down. That's where backs and hips get to be problems for big guys.

Phil Jackson

The NBA has made a real issue about really making these superstars the premium that everybody wants to go to. That's their calling card and their marketing tool. But the coaches at the other end of the sphere are trying to make everybody on the team, even nine, 10, 11, 12, just as important, and have a real role that's meaningful.

Phil Jackson

As much as we pump iron and we run to build our strength up, we need to build our mental strength up... so we can focus... so we can be in concert with one another.

Phil Jackson

Pau is one of the best big men in the game. I mean, Pau Gasol is going to be in the Hall of Fame.

Phil Jackson

You have to be able to psychologically help your players, support-wise, be in touch with them, so I think managing people is very important.

Phil Jackson

I'm a sports-watcher. I played football and baseball, coached baseball. So I watch those things.

Phil Jackson

I played hockey in North Dakota growing up and watch a lot of that.

Phil Jackson