Speaking of basketball season ending and Michael Jordan, one of the NBAs all-time great coaches, Phil Jackson, is retiring this year after 20 years and 11 NBA titles. He’s also written six books, and Sacred Hoops is one of my favorites.
There is a lot of the mental game in his approach: team building, focus and concentration, visualization, among others. In Sacred Hoops, Jackson describes his life growing up, his NBA playing career, and his coaching career (through the 1994 season). The opening statement from the book:
“This book is about a vision and a dream. When I was named the head coach of the Chicago Culls in 1989, my dream was not just to win championships, but to do it in a way that wove together my two greatest passions: basketball and spiritual exploration. On the surface, this may sound like a crazy idea, but I sensed that there was a link between spirit and sport.”
This is a great book. If you are a coach, it will definitely give you some ideas to expand your effectiveness as a coach getting players to play together. If you are a player, you will get some good insights and a new perspective on the mental side of the game. And if you’re a fan, there’s some really cool behind-the-scenes stories about Pippen, Jordan, and the rest of that Bulls dynasty of the 1990s.
As Jackson’s career comes to an end, his legacy is just beginning.
