Coaching is about, "How do I get people to play at their peak level?" It is a spiritual quest. And if it's not that, you don't have a challenge, you don't have a mission. Forming a brotherhood and trying to move it forward - that's what coaching is.
Phil JacksonI don't believe in curfews, because you can't treat men like they were boys without forfeiting a certain level of trust.
Phil JacksonDespite their tremendous talent, (NBA players) are still, by and large, young adults, seeking validation from an authority figure, and there is no greater authority figure on a team than the coach. Needless to say, in today's warped, self-indulgent climate, too many players couldn't care less about appeasing the coach.
Phil JacksonI'm a sports-watcher. I played football and baseball, coached baseball. So I watch those things.
Phil JacksonBasketball is a sport that involves the subtle interweaving of players at full speed to the point where they are thinking and moving as one.
Phil JacksonI care about systematically playing basketball. If the spacing isn't right, if guys are standing on top of each other, if there aren't lanes to be provided, or rebounders available to offensively rebound the ball, or we don't have defensive balance when a shot goes up, all of these things are fundamental basketball. I follow it.
Phil Jackson