Phil Jackson: I’d Pick Bill Russell Over Michael Jordan
Phil Jackson won six NBA championships with Michael Jordan, but the legendary coach said if he were putting together dream team he would take someone else first.
Jackson said he would take Celtics legend Bill Russell to lead his team, even over Mike.
“In my estimation, the guy that has to be there would be Bill Russell. He has won 11 championships as a player,” Jackson said in an interview with Time. “That’s really the idea of what excellence is, when you win championships.”
By many measures, Russell had an even better career than Jordan. He was the centerpiece of a Celtics team that won 11 titles in the 1950s and 1960s, winning NBA MVP five times and being named to the All-Star team in 12 of his 13 seasons. Russell also won two NCAA championships with San Francisco and won a gold medal in the 1956 Olympics.
Jordan was close — earning six NBA titles — and was named MVP five times. Jordan also won two Olympic gold medals with the Dream Team and hit the game-winning shot to lead North Carolina to an NCAA title.
In a new memoir, Phil Jackson seemed to endorse Michael Jordan over Kobe Bryant. Admitting that he had deep-seeded problems with Kobe after the Lakers star was accused of sexual assault (a charge that would later be dropped), Jackson said Kobe doesn’t match up to Jordan in the leadership department.
“One of the biggest differences between the two stars from my perspective was Michael’s superior skills as a leader,” Jackson said. “Though at times he could be hard on his teammates, Michael was masterful at controlling the emotional climate of the team with the power of his presence. Kobe had a long way to go before he could make that claim. He talked a good game, but he’d yet to experience the cold truth of leadership in his bones, as Michael had.”
Phil Jackson may not have Michael Jordan or Bill Russell to pick from, but he does seem to be aiming for a return to the NBA. Jackson has reportedly been interested in several job openings, but in a front-office capacity rather than as a coach.
