Phil Jackson

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Details

Also Known As:
Zen Master
Date of Birth:
September 17, 1945
Height:
6' 8"
Hometown:
Deer Lodge

Bio:
Phil Jackson (born Philip Douglas Jackson in Deer Lodge, Montana on September 17, 1945) is a renown basketball coach in the National Basketball Association. As the son of ministers, Phil spent the majority of his time playing sports and games with his other siblings before he was recruited to play basketball in North Dakota. Phil played well and in 1967 joined the New York Knicks, but never broke out as a star. He retired in 1980 from playing and began a second successful career as a coach. In 2013, Phil revealed he had surgery to combat prostate cancer in 2011.

Best Known For:
Phil is best known for his success as a coach in the NBA including the six-time champion Chicago Bulls team comprised of Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippen, and Dennis Rodman as well as the winning Los Angeles Lakers with the dynamic duo Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O’Neal.

Personal Life:
Phil was married to Maxine Jackson from 1967-1972 before marrying his second wife June in 1974. They divorced in 2000. Phil had been dating LA Lakers president and co-owner Jeanie Buss since 1999 and were engaged since 2012. They announced their separation in December 2016.