'He accepted coaching' - Phil Jackson on the first lesson he taught Michael Jordan

Phil Jackson still vividly recalls a pivotal moment in his early interactions with Michael Jordan, the one that would shape the future of the Chicago Bulls. In this crucial conversation, Jackson emphasized that being a star was not solely about individual talent; true greatness comes from being a leader who can elevate the performance of teammates.

Looking back, what surprised "The Zen Master" the most from that dialogue was Jordan's reaction. Jackson revealed that, unlike other NBA stars who would have bristled at such a lecture, MJ listened intently and accepted his wisdom without question.

"I mentioned to Doug [Collins] that my coach in New York, Red Holtzman, always said that it's not what a star does for himself in basketball that's important but how much his teammates improve because of his presence," Jackson recalled. "Doug latched on to that and said, 'You have to tell Michael that.' I said, 'Come on.' And he said, 'No, he has to hear that from you.'"

"I was impressed with his ability to just accept it and say, 'Thank you.' He accepted coaching," he continued. "He may have had a certain sense of resisting an offense that was somewhat restrictive. But there was also a certain sense from him that he was going to have to find his way, make others better, which he did."

Trusting his teammates paid off for MJ

MJ's response to Jackson's profound lesson about embracing leadership proved his maturity as a player. It is worth noting that when Jackson was promoted to the Bulls head coach, Jordan was already an MVP, averaging 32.5 points per game. He was also the clear-cut best player in the league, but Phil understood the importance of instilling this sense of teamwork early in his journey.

Jordan was very willing to be coached, so he and Jackson were on the same page early on. They embodied the mentality that success can't be achieved alone and that winning games requires collaboration, communication, and mutual support among teammates.