Top 32 Phil Jackson Quotes (ELEVEN RINGS)

Top 10 Most Famous Phil Jackson Quotes on Success, Change, and Being Wise

Good teams become great ones when the members trust each other enough to surrender the 'Me' for the 'We.' — Good teams become great ones when the members **trust** each other enough to surrender the ‘Me’ for the ‘We.’

Wisdom is always an overmatch for strength. — **Wisdom** is always an overmatch for strength.

The strength of the team lies within the individual. And the strength of the individual lies within the team.

Love is the force that ignites the spirit and binds teams together.

You can't force your will on people. If you want them to act differently, you need to inspire them to change themselves — You can’t force your will on people. If you want them to act differently, you need to inspire them to **change** themselves.

Always keep an open mind and a compassionate heart.

Approach the game with no preset agendas and you'll probably come away surprised at your overall efforts. — Approach the game with no preset agendas and you’ll probably come away surprised at your overall efforts.

The most we can hope for is to create the best possible conditions for success, then let go of the outcome. The ride is a lot more fun that way. — The most we can **hope** for is to create the best possible conditions for **success**, then let go of the outcome. The ride is a lot more fun that way.

Basketball is a simple game. Your goal is penetration, get the ball close to the basket, and there are three ways to do that. Pass, dribble and offensive rebound.

When the mind is allowed to relax, inspiration often follows.

22 Inspirational Phil Jackson Quotes on Teamwork, Leadership, and Basketball

“Like life, basketball is messy and unpredictable. It has its way with you, no matter how hard you try to control it. The trick is to experience each moment with a clear mind and an open heart. When you do that, the game – and life – will take care of itself.”
Phil Jackson

In basketball - as in life - true joy comes from being fully present in each and every moment, not just when things are going your way. — In basketball – as in life – true joy comes from being fully present in each and every moment, not just when things are going your way.

No one plays this or any game perfectly. It's the guy who recovers from his mistakes who wins. — No one plays this or any game perfectly. It’s the guy who recovers from his mistakes who wins.

I think the most important thing about coaching is that you have to have a sense of confidence about what you're doing. — I think the most important thing about **coaching** is that you have to have a sense of **confidence** about what you’re doing.

Winning is important to me, but what brings me real joy is the experience of being fully engaged in whatever I'm doing. — Winning is important to me, but what brings me real joy is the experience of being fully engaged in whatever I’m doing.

Leadership is not about forcing your will on others. It's about mastering the art of letting go. — **Leadership** is not about forcing your will on others. It’s about mastering the art of letting go.

A coach's main job is to reawaken a spirit in which the players can blend together effortlessly. — A coach’s main job is to reawaken a spirit in which the players can blend together effortlessly.

I'm a patient person. I think that's one thing that I feel comfortable I can deal with - the downfall and the errors, as long as I see progress and people trying. — I’m a **patient** person. I think that’s one thing that I feel comfortable I can deal with – the downfall and the errors, as long as I see progress and people trying.

“But trying to eliminate anger never works. The more you try to suppress it, the more likely it is to erupt later in a more virulent form. A better approach is to become as intimate as possible with how anger works on your mind and body so that you can transform its underlying energy into something productive.”
Phil Jackson

Before a vision (dream) can become a reality, it must be owned by every member of the group. — Before a vision (**dream**) can become a reality, it must be owned by every member of the group.

The sign of a great player is how much he elevates his colleagues' performance. — The sign of a great player is how much he elevates his colleagues’ performance.

You're only a success for the moment that you complete a successful act. — You’re only a **success** for the moment that you complete a successful act.

Not only is there more to life than basketball, there's a lot more to basketball than basketball. — Not only is there more to life than basketball, there’s a lot more to basketball than basketball.

Make your work your play and your play your work.

“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 Jackson

If you have a clear mind... you won't have to search for direction. Direction will come to you. — If you have a clear mind… you won’t have to search for direction. Direction will come to you.

The greatness of Michael Jordan is his competitive drive. The weakness of Michael Jordan is his competitive drive. — The greatness of **Michael Jordan** is his competitive drive. The weakness of Michael Jordan is his competitive drive.

If you give the future all your attention, the present will pass you by. — If you give the **future** all your attention, the present will pass you by.

Yes, victory is sweet, but it doesn't necessarily make life any easier the next season or even the next day. — Yes, victory is sweet, but it doesn’t necessarily make life any easier the next season or even the next day.

Your problems never cease, they just change. — Your problems never cease, they just **change**.

“My philosophy is that you don’t motivate players with speeches; you have motivated players that you draft. That’s where they come in, and those are the guys that are competitive. You can not teach competitiveness.”
Phil Jackson

“Once you’ve done the mental work, there comes a point you have to throw yourself into the action and put your heart on the line. That means not only being brave but being compassionate towards yourself, your teammates, and your opponents.”
Phil Jackson

Phil Jackson Short Biography

Born 17 September 1945, in Deer Lodge, Montana, United States, Philip Douglas Jackson was a former American basketball player and coach.

Jackson so much of his time in high school playing basketball that he was recruited by Bill Fitch to play for the University of North Dakota.

He graduated college in 1967 and was drafted in the same year by the New York Knicks. Jackson played as a power forward, it was said that he played with intelligence and good defensive play to make up for a meager offense.

In 1970 and 1973, Jackson would aid the New York Knicks in winning the NBA Championships.

Jackson started his coaching career in 1987 and became the assistant coach for the Chicago Bulls. He was promoted to head coach in 1989 and led the Chicago Bulls to six championships out of nine seasons.

In 1996 Phil Jackson was awarded NBA Coach of the Year and was included in the list of the 10 Greatest NBA Coaches of All Time.

After a run with the Chicago Bulls, he became head coach of the LA Lakers in 1999-2004, winning the NBA Championships in 2000, 2001, and 2002. He would later return in 2005-2011.

In 2010 Jackson won his 11^th Championship, the most championships won by a coach of the NBA.

Further Reading:

How Phil Jackson Is Influencing Today’s NBA Coaches – ESPN
5 Reasons Phil Jackson Is A Great Coach – USA Basketball
Phil Jackson, The Greatest Coach of All Time – Silver Screen and Roll

Here are the best Phil Jackson quotes so you can master the art of leading with humility and compassion.

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Also read:

Top 10 Most Famous Phil Jackson Quotes on Success, Change, and Being Wise

22 Inspirational Phil Jackson Quotes on Teamwork, Leadership, and Basketball

Phil Jackson Short Biography

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