Phil Jackson has coached some of the greatest players in basketball history, including Michael Jordan, and few voices carry more weight in the GOAT debate.
In a resurfaced interview, the 11-time NBA champion coach gave both Jordan and LeBron James their flowers… but also reminded everyone of a record that remains untouched.
“Take Nothing Away From Either Player”
“You can’t take anything away from either player,” Jackson began. “They’re absolutely terrific players.”
But when pressed to compare, he turned to the Finals.
“Michael went to the Finals six times and won six championships,” Jackson said. “Seventh games, how many seventh games in the final series did Michael have to go through? Never. We won in six at the most.
“But, you know, the reality is that the record stands and that’s what happens in careers.”
A Changing Game
Jackson acknowledged that basketball today is not the same as it was during Jordan’s era.
“The game has changed. And the players have changed. And how the game has been played has also changed,” he said.
Still, for Jackson, the numbers speak for themselves: “It’s still a fact that Mike went to the Finals six times and won six championships.”
The Bottom Line
Jackson’s take wasn’t about tearing LeBron down. It was about highlighting the perfection of Jordan’s Finals résumé.
And in a debate that shows no signs of ending, the Zen Master made it clear: the record stands.
