Phil Jackson Quotes

67 quotes in 862 categories

• Basketball is a great mystery. You can do everything right. You can have the perfect mix of talent and the best system of offense in…
• And yet as a coach, I know that being fixated on winning (or more likely, not losing) is counterproductive, especially when it causes you to…
• People think I would never take on a team that has no legitimate chance to win a championship, This is one of the major misconceptions…
• I thrive on challenges, and there is no more imposing challenge for someone in my profession than winning an NBA title.
• Yes, victory is sweet, but it doesn't necessarily make life any easier the next season or even the next day.
• The best part of basketball, for those people on the inside, is the bus going to the airport after you've won a game on an…
• Basketball, unlike football with its prescribed routes, is an improvisational game, similar to jazz. If someone drops a note, someone else must step into the…
• You're only a success for the moment that you complete a successful act.
• I probably would have no capability of absorbing a 60-defeat season as a coach. It would be a foreign experience. My whole career, even as…
• Despite their tremendous talent, (NBA players) are still, by and large, young adults, seeking validation from an authority figure, and there is no greater authority…
• You can't force your will on people. If you want them to act differently, you need to inspire them to change themselves
• The greatness of Michael Jordan is his competitive drive. The weakness of Michael Jordan is his competitive drive
• My first act after being named head coach of the Bulls was to formulate a vision for the team. I had to take into account…
• If we can accept whatever hand we've been dealt - no matter how unwelcome - the way to proceed eventually becomes clear.
• The strength of the team lies within the individual. And the strength of the individual lies within the team
• If you have a clear mind . . . you won't have to search for direction. Direction will come to you.
• I don't believe in curfews, because you can't treat men like they were boys without forfeiting a certain level of trust.
• What moves me is watching young men bond together and tap into the magic that arises when they focus with their whole heart and soul…
• 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…
• The road to freedom is a beautiful system

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