Phil Jackson is widely regarded as one of the greatest coaches in NBA history. He has won 11 championships with the Chicago Bulls and the Los Angeles Lakers, more than any other coach.
Jackson is also known for his unconventional and spiritual approach to coaching, which includes giving his players books to read during the season.
Recently, on the Forgotten Seasons podcast, former NBA champion Jelani McCoy said Phil Jackson gave him the book Shantaram, which was written by Gregory David Roberts.
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Jackson also gave books to the stars on his teams. This includes Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant, Shaquille O’Neal, and Scottie Pippen.
So, what were the books Jackson gave to his players? What was the reason behind the books? We’ll answer these questions by diving deeper into the mindset of the Zen Master himself, Phil Jackson.
Song Of Solomon – Michael Jordan
Phil Jackson gave the greatest player of all time, Michael Jordan, Song of Solomon, written by Toni Morris. This novel was published in 1977 and follows Macon “Milkman” Dead III, an African American man who lives in Michigan.
In the novel, you follow Macon’s story from birth to adulthood as he tries to find his own way through life. This is an interesting story, and it’s been said Jackson gave these books to his players based on their personalities.
How does this book relate to Jordan’s personality? The main character struggles to find his way through life. Jordan, who was the biggest athlete on the planet, needed to find his way, especially when he was still looking for his first championship.
This could have been the message Jackson wanted to give MJ. As mentioned, Jordan struggled to win a title in the early portion of his career.
Jordan was arguably the most popular athlete by the late 1980s, and he was certainly the most explosive scorer the game had seen since Wilt Chamberlain. On top of all of this, Jordan was featured in many ads, as his marketability was off the roof.
All of this attention made it easy for Jordan to be a “one-man show” but this is not the way to win a championship. Jackson, better than others, knew something needed to change, and it started with Jordan.
Did the book help Jordan discover his way through basketball life, helping him trust in his teammates more? There’s no way to truly know this, but MJ did make the change, resulting in six NBA titles.
The Ways Of White Folks – Scottie Pippen
Scottie Pippen received The Ways of White Folks by Langston Hughes. This is a collection of short stories based on Hughes’ account of what occurred to him as he lived in Carmel-by-the-Sea, California.
Hughes dealt with a lot of trouble while living in Carmel-by-the-Sea. This includes racial issues and how Hughes learned to handle them.
Why was this a good book for Pippen to read? Jackson obviously felt it was. The reason for giving Pippen this book could be because of Pippen’s upbringing in a small rural town.
The fast life in the NBA was certainly different from Pippen’s humble beginnings in Hamburg, Arkansas. Maybe it was this book that helped get Pippen ready for the big moments in the NBA, especially in 1991.
Siddhartha – Shaquille O’Neal
Shaquille O’Neal was the most dominant force in NBA history. He was also a deep thinker, hence his nickname, The Big Aristotle.
Maybe this was why Jackson gave Shaq the book Siddhartha by Hermann Hesse. This novel is about a man named Siddhartha, who lived when Gautama Buddha was alive.
Siddhartha tries to find fulfillment in his life by seeking self-discovery. This is something Shaq has always sought, learning exactly who he is while not being afraid to try new things. This is why Shaq holds many job titles.
What’s interesting about Shaq and his book is that Shaq actually wrote a book report on the novel. It occurred after Shaq was ejected from a game against the Bulls in Chicago.
Shaq went to the team bus and started the book report. This shows that Shaq completely bought into Jackson’s ways, and it helped the duo win three NBA titles together.
Montana 1948 – Kobe Bryant
The novel Montana 1948 by Larry Watson was given to the late great Kobe Bryant. This story follows a young man named David Hayden and his family in a fictional town located in Montana.
David and his family deal with a tragic event, as his Native American babysitter is found dead. This is a story about a family torn apart. So, why was it given to Kobe?
It could be because Kobe famously had a falling out with his parents after he married Vanessa Laine. This sounds like a good explanation, but it’s totally fabricated.
Reports have come out in the past stating that Kobe never read any of the books Jackson gave him. Also, Jackson knew Kobe wouldn’t gain anything of value from the story, plus he knew Kobe wouldn’t read it.
Jackson just wanted to give Kobe a book about his home state, Montana. Looks like the Zen Master succeeded on that front.
Books Phil Jackson Gave To His Other Players
Jackson has given books to all of his players. Some notable books given to players were This Book Sucks Beavis and Butthead to Stacey King, and There Is No Next to Carmelo Anthony.
The book given to Anthony was written by Sam Smith, and it was about the legacy of Michael Jordan. Jackson wanted Anthony to understand the level of intensity Jordan had to become a winner.
Lakers owner and former fiancée to Jackson, Jeanie Buss, once shared the full list of books Jackson gave to his players on the 2009-10 Lakers. This was the last championship won by Kobe Bryant.
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– Shannon Brown: “Dreams from My Father” by Barack Obama
– Kobe Bryant: “Blink” by Malcolm Gladwell
– Andrew Bynum: “Six Easy Pieces” by Walter Mosley
– Jordan Farmar: “Makes Me Wanna Holler” by Nathan McCall
– Derek Fisher: “Soul on Ice,” by Eldridge Cleaver
– Pau Gasol: “2666” by Roberto Bolano
– Luke Walton: “The Monkey Wrench Gang” by Edward Abbey
– Metta World Peace: “Sacred Hoops” by Phil Jackson
– Sasha Vujacic: “Reservation Blues” by Sherman Alexie
Phil Jackson was a true genius when it came to the game of basketball. He knew how to handle high-ego players better than any coach in league history.
But Jackson’s teachings went beyond the hardwood courts. He wanted to help guide his players through life, as well.
When it comes to his unorthodox ways, did it work? Phil Jackson’s 11 NBA championships as a coach sure prove it did.
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