957 - 2012

Jackson focuses more on documenting his famed 'triangle offense' in this book compared to his other efforts. The back and forth format between Jackson and Rosen was less annoying that it appeared to be the first few chapters. The alternating entries provide journalistic insight by Rosen to complement the more direct writing style of Jackson.

fun read. looking forward to the next book.

I enjoy basketball but am not a huge watcher. For me reading the book, it was very interesting to hear how one of the greatest coaches of all time thinks about his job and career. This book would be even more exciting for a basketball fanatic who remembers the classic games he discusses.

This book covers up Phil Jackson's first ring with LAL. Jackson and Rosen alternate chapters, though Jackson have written many more pages than Rosen. And the more interesting ones, I'd add.

Rosen's chapters are about his basketball life as player and then as coach, as well as various anecdotes and an approach to the figure of Tex Winter, the man behind the famous 'Triangle' offense which Jackson had developed both in Bulls and Lakers. I felt his chapters like more boring than the Jackson's ones because I don't have special interest in the life of him, however I consider the figure of Phil Jackson much more attractive. Of all these chapters I only enjoyed the part devoted to Winter, a man whose importance developing the 'Triangle' was crucial to the success of Jackson and whom I scarcely knew.

So the best part of the book are Jackson's chapters. He makes a brief view of his entire basketball career until year 2000, paying special attention to the 1999-2000 season, in which he won his seventh NBA title as coach with the Los Angeles Lakers. Roughly one third of the book is about that.

I enjoyed his first chapters talking about his player years and then his beginning as coach in CBA and Puerto Rico. He offers us several stories in these leagues when he was developing his skills to lead a team, and they result interesting for a different view of a beginner, not the usually better known successes.

The last third of the book is the story of Lakers' 1999-2000 season, the first one of Jackson with this team, in the end of which they won the title. They were an outstanding team and the Jackson's willing to implement the 'Triangle' was a big challenge, finally successful. It wasn't easy to treat Kobe or Shaq's egos, but Jackson was able to cope with all of them and to achieve their main goal: the ring.

Besides Phil Jackson explains many of the concepts of the 'Triangle', there even are several graphics at the end of the book to help us understanding them. It's very interesting to know how Jackson, with Winter's contribution, of course, implemented the system and was able to develop it through the season. His doubts about this or the relationships inside the team. And also his own personal life, how after his divorce he had to learn how to be a single again and how this influenced in his day-to-day.

Good read....a little long in certain parts especially for those with a much more basic understanding of the game, but overall it was really interesting. The back and forth between Charley/Phil added a lot of color to the book and worked well to reaffirm why the technical aspects of the triangle offense also can serve as a life philosophy.

Jackson is a very compelling figure in basketball and Rosen's narrative does him justice. A great read for any hoops fan. Published before the Laker years...so you won't find any juicy Kobe smack.

My question for Phil would be, “Tex Winter describes his time at Northwestern University where he coached good students, but not the best basketball players. His coaching record deteriorated, but he enjoyed coaching them and they ran the triangle well. Lets say you had to coach 0.500 team, that would never win a championship, but who played the triangle to perfection. Which 10 NBA players from any era, who never appeared in an all-star game or made an all-NBA first team, would you choose for your team?”

A much deeper look at Phil Jackson's life and the influences that shaped his approach to life and basketball. An easy read.

Great read for basketball fans-- a meandering journey through the minds of Phil Jackson and Charley Rosen, covering Jackson' s early coaching days, Jackson and Rosen's basketball philosophies, and some interesting stories from the 2000-2001 season (Jackson's first with the Lakers). I prefer Sacred Hoops for an elucidation of PJ's coaching/spiritual philosophy, and The Last Season for a behind-the-scenes look at the Lakers, but this book is a solid combination of the two and worth your time.

The audiobook is decent. It might have been better had it been read by a professional or by Phil Jackson only. I've always been a fan of Phil Jackson and his approach to basketball and life. The content outshined the poor reading.

Love reading about my Lakers!