Phil Jackson NBA Career Totals and Player Stats
Phil Jackson played 1,144 regular-season NBA games as a power forward and center, averaging 13.8 points, 8.7 rebounds, and 2.4 assists per game over his career. His career totals include 1,702 field goals made, 1,264 free throws made, and 1,640 personal fouls, with a field goal percentage of .487 and a free throw percentage of .789. He played for the New York Knicks from 1967 to 1978 and for the New Jersey Nets from 1978 to 1980, finishing as a player after the 1979–1980 NBA season. His playoff averages rise to 14.2 points and 9.1 rebounds per game across 188 postseason contests, reflecting his role as a physical rebounder and defensive anchor. Jackson was a member of the 1970 and 1973 Knicks championship teams, contributing primarily as a rebounder and shot blocker in those series. His career player efficiency rating and advanced box score metrics place him among the more efficient role players of his era, according to NBA advanced stats databases.
As a player, Jackson logged 31,402 minutes, shot .487 from the field, and never averaged more than 14.3 points in a single season. His best rebounding season came in 1974–1975, when he averaged 10.4 rebounds per game for the Knicks. He was selected to the NBA All-Rookie Team in 1968 after averaging 9.1 points and 7.0 rebounds in his first season. His career defensive win shares total 53.4, underscoring his value as a team defender on championship rosters. Jackson was known for his triangle offense-ready versatility and his ability to space the floor while playing strong inside defense. His career field goal attempts total 3,495, with a career true shooting percentage of .527, indicating efficient scoring relative to his usage rate.
Phil Jackson NBA Coaching Record and Championships
Phil Jackson coached 1,640 regular-season NBA games, earning 1,155 wins and 485 losses for a .704 winning percentage. He won 11 NBA championships as a head coach, leading the Chicago Bulls from 1989 to 1998 and the Los Angeles Lakers from 1999 to 2004 and again from 2005 to 2011. His Bulls teams won six titles between 1991 and 1993 and again from 1996 to 1998, while his Lakers teams won five titles between 2000 and 2010. Jackson's coaching record includes six NBA Finals appearances with the Bulls and five with the Lakers, giving him a 10–1 Finals record as a head coach. He coached Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippen, Kobe Bryant, Shaquille O'Neal, and Pau Gasol across his two dynasties. His regular-season coaching wins rank third all time in NBA history, behind only Gregg Popovich and Don Nelson.
Jackson's coaching philosophy centered on the triangle offense, a system he adapted from his time as a player under Red Holzman and later under Tex Winter. He used mindfulness and Zen-based motivational techniques to manage star players and maintain locker room discipline. His Lakers teams posted a 333–164 regular-season record, while his Bulls teams went 545–245, combining for a .704 overall coaching winning percentage across both franchises. Jackson was named NBA Coach of the Year in 1996 after leading the