Last Updated on July 20, 2026 by Mat Diekhake

Phil Jackson reshaped NBA coaching by blending the triangle offense with a calm, philosophical leadership style that consistently brought the best out of superstar talent. Owner of a record 11 NBA championships as a head coach, he guided two legendary dynasties in Chicago and Los Angeles while cementing his place among the greatest coaches in basketball history.

Here’s the detailed information on Phil Jackson:

Player Profile

  • Full Name: Philip Douglas Jackson
  • Nationality: American
  • Age: Born on September 17, 1945
  • Hometown: Deer Lodge, Montana, USA
  • Height: 6 feet 8 inches (203 cm)
  • Weight: 220 lbs (100 kg)
  • Wingspan: 6 feet 9 inches (206 cm)
  • Shoe Size: Size 16 (US)
  • Number: 18 (with the New York Knicks)
  • Position: Power Forward
  • High School: Williston High School in Williston, North Dakota
  • College: University of North Dakota
  • NBA Draft: 1967 NBA Draft, 2nd round, 17th overall pick by the New York Knicks
  • Teams Played For:
    • New York Knicks (1967–1978)
    • New Jersey Nets (1978–1980)
  • Championship Rings:
    • As a Player: 2 NBA Championships with the New York Knicks (1970, 1973)
    • As a Coach: 11 NBA Championships (6 with the Chicago Bulls in 1991–1993, 1996–1998; 5 with the Los Angeles Lakers in 2000–2002, 2009, 2010)
  • Kids: 5 children (Ben, Charlie, Elizabeth, Chelsea, Brooke)
  • Siblings: 2 brothers and 2 sisters (Charles, Joe, Ruth, and Jeanie)

Player Archetype / Play Style

Phil Jackson’s player archetype was that of an intelligent defensive forward and high-feel glue guy, a rangy frontcourt piece whose value came more from instincts, positioning, and team play than from featured scoring. At 6-foot-8 and about 220 pounds, he had long arms, solid mobility, and enough size to work at power forward while using anticipation and effort to make life difficult for opposing scorers. Defensively, he filled a rugged complementary role, helping with switches, contests, and physical half-court work, while offensively he functioned mostly as a low-usage support player who moved the ball, finished opportunistically, and stayed within the structure of the offense. His overall play style was unselfish, cerebral, and role-driven, fitting the mold of a dependable reserve and eventual starter whose toughness and basketball IQ translated well on winning teams. (Basketball Reference)

Scouting Report

It’s easy to forget that Phil Jackson the player looked nothing like Phil Jackson the coach. On the floor he survived by reading the game a beat early rather than overpowering anyone physically, fitting naturally into lineups that valued ball movement and defensive discipline over individual creation. Offensively, he wasn’t someone an offense flowed through. He kept possessions alive with timely cuts from the weak side, quick extra passes and intelligent spacing around the post, understanding when to clear driving lanes and when to slide into open areas as an outlet. If the ball reached him at the elbows or along the baseline, he rarely held it long enough for the defense to reset. Defensively was where his game carried more weight. Jackson anticipated actions before they fully developed, rotated early as the low man, disrupted passing lanes with his length and consistently arrived in help positions that discouraged easy finishes without gambling himself out of the play. He lacked the strength to consistently battle the league’s most powerful frontcourt scorers one-on-one, and he wasn’t an explosive rim protector or dynamic rebounder, but his awareness often compensated for physical limitations by preventing breakdowns before they happened. What stands out is how comfortable he seemed playing a complementary role that required patience and discipline rather than touches. Teams built around high-level scorers benefited from having players who understood spacing, defensive responsibilities and the value of making the next simple play, and Jackson fit neatly into that mold. To me, his playing style shared more with players like Shane Battier or Joe Ingles than traditional scoring forwards—not because of offensive production, but because of the emphasis on anticipation, positioning and quietly improving the structure of the lineup through decision-making instead of individual shot creation.

Notes:

  • Phil Jackson is widely regarded as one of the greatest NBA coaches in history, known for his success with the Chicago Bulls and Los Angeles Lakers, leading teams led by Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippen, Kobe Bryant, and Shaquille O’Neal. His 11 NBA championships as a coach are the most in league history.
  • Phil Jackson’s height is officially listed at 6 feet 8 inches (203 cm). With shoes, his height would typically be around 6 feet 9 inches (206 cm).
  • Phil Jackson’s playing weight during his NBA career was listed at 220 pounds (100 kg).

Sources:

Basketball-Reference — Phil Jackson Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft Status, and more
Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame — Phil Jackson – The Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame
Britannica — Phil Jackson | Biography, Titles, Teams, & Facts