Phil Jackson is widely regarded as one of the greatest coaches in NBA history, thanks to his numerous championships with the Chicago Bulls and the Los Angeles Lakers. With all the experience he’s gathered over the years, the legendary coach has jumped right into the heated debate about who is the greatest player of all time.

Both the Bulls and the Lakers experienced glorious eras under Phil Jackson’s leadership. He led both franchises to multiple championships, building unforgettable teams that dominated the league for years. Drawing from his privileged experience, the coach revealed who he considers the greatest of all time.

“That’s the best player I had, the one I can call the best player in the game,” Jackson said in a 2001 interview, referring to Michael Jordan. In doing so, he made it clear that MJ was the most impressive player he had ever seen—even above Kobe Bryant, whom he was coaching at the time, and other legends from the past.

However, that wasn’t the only time Phil referred to Jordan in such terms. In 2009, ahead of the Bulls legend’s induction into the Basketball Hall of Fame, the coach said:
“I don’t think anyone truly touches what Michael has done for the game. Maybe someone breaks one of his records or wins more championships… but Michael’s image as a player will always remain, and his greatness will never be surpassed.”

Regarding Jordan’s place in NBA and sports history, Jackson was unequivocal:
“He was perhaps the most recognized athlete in the world for a decade. The fact that he elevated the game of basketball and the NBA to that level—that will never be eclipsed,” he stated.

Phil Jackson Compares Jordan and Kobe Bryant

Phil Jackson has the rare distinction of having coached two of the greatest players in NBA history: Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant. He won multiple championships with both, giving him a unique perspective to compare their strengths.

“One of the biggest differences between the two stars, from my point of view, was Michael’s superior leadership ability,” Jackson wrote in his 2013 book Eleven Rings: The Soul of Success. “Although he could be tough on his teammates, Michael was a master at managing the emotional climate of the team with the power of his presence.”

In contrast, about Kobe he noted:
“Kobe still had a long way to go before he could make that claim. He spoke well about leadership, but he hadn’t yet experienced that raw truth deep down, like Michael had.”

Despite the differences, Jackson also spoke about the relationship between the two stars:
“I know Kobe leaned heavily on his conversations with Michael over the years. Michael was very helpful to him, and I know Kobe had great respect for him,” he explained.

Jordan’s Edge Over LeBron James, According to Phil Jackson

One of Phil Jackson’s more recent comments on the GOAT debate came in a 2023 interview on the Gimme The Hot Sauce podcast. There, the coach explained why, in his opinion, Michael Jordan has the edge over LeBron James.

“It’s funny—you can’t take anything away from either of them. They’re both absolutely incredible players,” Jackson began.

“But the truth is, Michael went to the Finals six times and won six championships. And what’s interesting is… how many times did he go to a Game 7? Never. Not once. We always closed it out in six games at most,” he added, pointing out a key difference with LeBron, who despite having four rings, lost six Finals.

“That record stands, and that’s the nature of careers. The game changed, the players changed. The way it’s played has changed, too,” he reflected.
“But, not to discredit anyone, the fact remains: Michael went to six Finals—and won all six.”

Phil Jackson’s Unforgettable Run with the Bulls

Before becoming one of the greatest coaches of all time, Phil Jackson had a successful career as a player. He was a forward for the New York Knicks for eleven seasons, winning two NBA titles in 1970 and 1973. He later played for the New Jersey Nets, where he retired in 1980.

Jackson joined the Chicago Bulls in 1987 as an assistant to Doug Collins. Two years later, he was promoted to head coach, beginning a historic run. With Michael Jordan leading the way, supported by Scottie Pippen, John Paxson, Horace Grant, and Bill Cartwright, the Bulls secured their first three-peat from 1991 to 1993.

After Jordan’s brief retirement from 1993 to 1995, the Bulls restructured, keeping Pippen and adding key names like Dennis Rodman, Steve Kerr, and Toni Kukoc. They went on to achieve another three-peat from 1996 to 1998, culminating in the legendary Last Dance.

Success with the Lakers

A year after leaving Chicago, Phil Jackson took on a new challenge: returning the L.A. Lakers to glory after more than a decade without titles. And he succeeded—winning three straight championships from 2000 to 2002 with Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O’Neal.

Later, after Shaq’s departure, he won two more titles in 2009 and 2010, once again with Kobe as the unquestioned leader.

With 13 NBA championships—two as a player and eleven as a coach—Phil Jackson solidified his place as one of the greatest legends in league history. He was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2007, and for many, he’s simply the greatest coach of all time.