By Brandon Zhu
In 1997, Chicago’s Phil Jackson recorded his 500th victory as an NBA coach, reaching the mark in his 682nd game, faster than any other coach in NBA history. Jackson finished his NBA coaching career with 1,155 victories, ranking him 7th on the list for most wins. Jackson began his coaching career with the Los Angeles Lakers and spent one season with the Chicago Bulls before finishing his impressive career in Los Angeles.
Jackson’s coaching style was influenced by spiritual traditions and his preferred triangle offense. His leadership is based on his studies on human psychology, Native American philosophy, and Zen meditation. His innovative leadership style paid off and made Jackson the most successful coach in NBA history; winning 11 NBA championships.