Sports Quote of the Day:

Many players and coaches go their entire careers without winning a title, but Phil Jackson operated on a different level. The Montana native won the 1970 and 1973 NBA championships as a forward on the New York Knicks before winning 11 championships over his head coaching tenures with the Chicago Bulls and Los Angeles Lakers.

Jackson started his coaching career as an assistant with the New Jersey (now Brooklyn) Nets in 1978, and he played for the team as well until 1980. The former second-round pick then stayed as an assistant coach for the 1980-81 campaign before coaching in the Continental Basketball Association (minor league) and Puerto Rico's Baloncesto Superior Nacional.

The Bulls hired Jackson as an assistant in 1987 and promoted him to head coach in 1989. He guided the organization to titles from 1991 to 1993 and 1996 to 1998, managing stars like Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippen, and Dennis Rodman. Rodman was only on the squad for the final three titles.

Jackson then took over as Lakers head coach in 1999 and led the franchise to titles from 2000 to 2002 as well as the 2009 and 2010 campaigns while working with stars like Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O'Neal. O'Neal was only present for the first three titles.

Phil Jackson's Perspective on Ego

Part of Jackson's job was balancing star players' egos with what was best for the team. For example, Jordan used to say, "There's no 'I' in 'team,' but there's an 'I' in 'win'." Additionally, O'Neal and other Lakers teammates didn't like what they perceived as selfish play by Bryant.

While Jackson was lucky to work with such talented players, what helped them win was putting egos and differences aside for the good of the team. It's hard to win a title when players clash, which is why Jackson promoted an unselfish mindset. That philosophy can be applied to not only sports, but any walk of life that involves people teaming up for a common goal.

"Good teams become great when members surrender the Me for the We."