Phil Jackson is the greatest NBA coach of all time, period. There is no argument, no dilemma, no confusion. Some argue that Jackson only won because he has great talent on his team. Yes, this did help, but every championship team has great talent. Saying his wins should not count because of his players is like saying Ray Allen's three pointers shouldn't count because of his amazing shooting stroke.
During his time coaching the Chicago Bulls, from 1989 to 1998, he won 6 NBA titles. In 9 season, 6 championships…that's pretty amazing! He ran Tex Winter's triangle offense, that he later ran with the Lakers as well.
He vowed to never coach again after his tenure with the Bulls…a year later he was back.
He decided to give it a try in Los Angeles with the Lakers. In his first year in L.A., Jackson coached the Lakers to a 67-15 record in the regular season(1st place). That same year, he won his first championship with the Lakers. He did the same the next two years, making it his third three peat.
He would again retire and then return on June 15, 2005. He coached an at best, mediocre, Lakers team to the 7th seed in the Western Conference. For the first time his team would lose in the first round of the playoffs.
On January 7, 2007, Jackson won his 900th game. He reached that number faster than any other coach, doing so in only 1,264 games. On December 25, 2008, Jackson won his 1,000th game. Again being the fastest to do so.
Jackson won the NBA title in 2009 tying Red Auerbach's coaching record of 11 championships. The following season, Jackson's Lakers won the title again giving him the most championships among any coach, ever.
Jackson also passed Pat Riley to become the most successful coach in Lakers franchise history. Moreover, he tied Lakers original head coach John Kundla's record for most championships won by a coach in franchise history.
Basically, history proves Jackson = championships. Not just one, but more often than not three in a row.
He has coached arguably the two best in the world(Kobe, MJ) and who knows where the two would be without the "Zen Master." Jackson will also be remembered in basketball history, not just for every record he set, but the way he did it.
Is he really not coming back this time? And if he doesn't, will there ever be another Phil Jackson?
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