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 the game. You can devise a foolproof defensive strategy and prepare your players for every possible eventuality. But if the players donโt have a sense of oneness as a group, your efforts wonโt pay off. And the bond that unites a team can be so fragile, so elusive.
Phil JacksonKobe was hell-bent on surpassing Jordan as the greatest player in the game. His obsession with Michael was striking. When we played in Chicago that season, I orchestrated a meeting between the two of them, thinking that Michael might help shift Kobeโs attitude toward selfless teamwork. After they shook hands, the first words out of Kobeโs mouth were, โYou know I can kick your ass one on one.โ
Phil Jackson