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What's the story?
ESPN's Ian Begley recently did an interview with Golden State Warriors Head Coach Steve Kerr. Within the interview, they talked about Phil Jackson, a coach Kerr played for, and his tenure with the New York Knicks.
In case you didn't know...
Kerr was a member of the Chicago Bulls from 1993 to 1998 when Jackson was the head coach. Together they won a total of three NBA Championships in 1996, 1997, and 1998. The second three-peat of Michael Jordan and Phil Jackson's careers.
The heart of the matter...
When it came to talking about Phil Jackson and the New York Knicks, Kerr had a very simple theory about why it went wrong. Take a look at his quote below (transcript from The Score):
"Phil had so much success as a coach. I don't know, maybe he was due for the down part of it."
As a head coach, Jackson has a total of 11 NBA Championships to go with two more as a player. Kerr would add to his assessment with the following quote:
"It's a hard league, man," he said. "Things really have to fall (in your favor), you have to do a good job. But you also have to get some luck. Phil knows that better than anybody. You can be really lucky and inherit Michael Jordan and you can also be unlucky and things don't go your way. It's all part of it."
Jackson tried to lure Kerr to New York in 2014, but ultimately Kerr went with the Golden State Warriors and now has two NBA Championships on his resume as a head coach.
What's next?
Steve Kerr and the Golden State Warriors (13-4) head into the Thanksgiving break coming off a huge loss in their last contest of a four-game road trip against the Oklahoma City Thunder. Meanwhile, the New York Knicks have been doing far better (this season) since Phil Jackson was fired.
Author's take...
Timing is definitely everything. Would Jackson have 11 NBA Championships as a head coach without Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippen, Kobe Bryant, and Shaquille O'Neal? Doubtful, but it doesn't take away for his brilliance as a head coach; however, it is just possible that is skill set didn't translate into the front office of an NBA team.
