Sacred Hoops: Spiritual Lessons of a Hardwood Warrior

As winner of 2 three-peat basketball champions as coach of the Chicago Bulls, and now with the Lakers, you have to listen to his team approach as quest for spiritual depth in the game. Although perhaps more of interest to the basketball fan, Jackson's Zen-Christian-Lakota insights into the ego and anger of a high caliber (and $) team, and as a grand experiment with the truth (to paraphrase Thich Nhat Hanh). The use of Tex Winter's triangle offense (five-man tai chi), as a team building exercise was fascinating. His descriptions of his own awakening from a Pentecostal background, and continual striving to understand deeper principles and make mid-course correction not just to the team but himself. As he says, "Being aware is more important that being smart". A good read!

When a person picks up Phil Jackson's "Sacred Hoops" for the first time and reads the first few chapters, he or she will find it very difficult to categorize. Is it a sports biography? Is it a guide to Zen and Native American spirituality? Is it a manual on leadership? The answer is that it is all of these things and much more.
I read "Sacred Hoops" through the lens of how it could make me a more effective leader in a school setting. I found anecdotes in this story applicable to the classroom, the athletic field, in the boardroom, and my personal life.
While "Sacred Hoops" does chronicle Phil Jackson's numerous triumphs as a player, a CBA coach, an assistant coach, and eventually as the head coach of the 3-time World Champion Chicago Bulls, the most important elements of this text are not the accolades won, but rather the means by which they were achieved. The two primary lessons of Jackson's that can be directly applied to the field of leadership is to teach one's employees/players/students about the essential nature of awareness and selflessness to the success of the organization. Of course, these two tenants were a difficult sell in the NBA during the Michael Jordan era just as they are today in the age of Kobe and the Lakers.
By educating his players on the basic Zen Buddhist principles of visualization and awareness, Jackson is able to create a workforce that is better at communicating with one another, more creative and innovative even under highly stressful situations, and more solidly unified in a "sacred" cause that they are personally and collectively invested in. A manager who could instill these values in his or her workforce will become the leader of an extremely successful and efficient organization.
It is no coincidence that Michael Jordan and Shaquille O'Neal did not win their first NBA titles until Phil Jackson became their coach. Phil's second major theme of "Sacred Hoops"--the concept of selflessness--is the key that enabled two of the game's greatest players to finally reach "the promise land." He instills in his superstar player through the 11th and 12th man on the bench that "The power of We is stronger than the power of Me." Coach Jackson's discussion of the numerous team-building techniques that he has used over the years is the most valuable facet of Sacred Hoops for me. His schooling of his players to learn how to play with compassion instead of fear, and to reconnect with their pure love of the game of basketball is absolutely inspiring.
Reading this book in June of 2004, it is hard to imagine how torturous it must have been to work with the Los Angeles Lakers during this year's NBA Finals. The attitude projected by his star players--Kobe and Shaq--is the antithesis of the principles of awareness and selflessness that this book so passionately endorses. It does not surprise me in the least that Coach Jackson and the Lakers have now parted ways. Perhaps he will have some more time to relax in Montana and pen another insightful and spiritual tome like this one.

Phil Jackson finds order in chaos. His concept of being "fully present" is a gem. This book is an easy read (I did it in one sitting) full of nuggets of wisdom. Phil is obviously well read and shares his insight in a thought provoking manner. I thoroughly enjoyed it.

Sacred Hoops is a verry good book. It is not just for sportsfans, but for anyone who wants to read a good book. I thought it was a verry goog book, not just about the game of basketball, but about life. The book follows Phil Jackson in his march into the playoffs. One bad thing about this book was it had some big words in it. I think that anyone who enjoys sports or life in general should read this book.

Not only does Phil Jackson take you inside the Chicago Bulls, like a passenger, he lets you into his life story here. I read this book about 5 times since buying it. Phil keeps the interest level high. My main criticism about him and the book is that it might talk about Zen a little too much at times. I understand explaining his philosophy, but after awhile it gets redundant.

I came to love Phil Jackson as coach of the Chicago Bulls. I came to feel the opposite about him when he coached the Lakers. I guess it depends on your view of the teams. Now that Jackson no longer coaches the Lakers I can see it wasn't him that I viewed as the enemy so much as the cockiness of his main star Kobe Bryant. I despise Kobe. Much like I despised Larry Bird in his playing days (being a 76ers fan it was natural to feel that way about Bird). I felt different about Bird in his coaching days and came to respect and, well LIKE Coach Larry Bird.

I just bought/pre-ordered 2 more Phil Jackson books: The Last Season: A Team In Search Of It's Soul & More Then A Game. I will write reviews on those books as soon as I recieve and read them.

As a yoga instructor and athletic trainer who works with professional athletes, I wish I had found this book sooner. I just read it and plan to reread it again. Amazing. Absolutely thought-provoking. You'll find yourself thinking about this one in the shower, just contemplating Phil's wisdom and how you can apply it to your own life. Anyone considering or presently on a path to spirituality and self awareness--no basketball interest or experience required--should read this book. If you want to gain a better understanding of the value of staying present in the moment, I urge you to pick up this book and let Phil Jackson enlighten you. If I ever decide to lead yoga teacher trainings in the future, this will be required reading! --Dana Edison, author and creator of "Dana Edison's Yoga Is Not One Size Fits All Custom Practice Journal" and audio instruction series.

This book was recommended to me by my management professor. Through reading it i saw that it was brilliantly written to appeal to both the athlete and the manager. It is inspirational and intriguing for everyone who will read it.

Coaches and managers will learn how to succeed.

Athletes will be inspired.

This book by Phil Jackson offers an interesting insight into how he has successfully managed to incorporate Zen and Native American philosophies into his coaching style. The traditional Zen concepts of "compassion and selflessness," "living in the moment," "emptying the mind," etc., might not appear to have any place in the modern sports world, but after reading this book, I am convinced that they can be applied to almost any walk of life. Phil also talks about his own internal conflicts with his very Christian upbringing and his fascination with Zen concepts, and how he has finally managed to embrace both, and now considers himself a 'Zen Christian'. He walks us through the Chicago Bulls championship years using some very interesting anecdotes and aphorisms. Overall, the book is a great read.

This book by Phil Jackson offers an interesting insight into how he has successfully managed to incorporate Zen and Native American philosophies into his coaching style. The traditional Zen concepts of "compassion and selflessness," "living in the moment," "emptying the mind," etc., might not appear to have any place in the modern sports world, but after reading this book, I am convinced that they can be applied to almost any walk of life. Phil also talks about his own internal conflicts with his very Christian upbringing and his fascination with Zen concepts, and how he has finally managed to embrace both, and now considers himself a 'Zen Christian'. He walks us through the Chicago Bulls championship years using some very interesting anecdotes and aphorisms. Overall, the book is a great read.

I enjoyed reading Phil Jackson's "Sacred Hoops". It was a breezy read, just over 200 pages and a nice mix of personal history, Bulls history and philosophy.

There isn't much philosophy in the book, though I suppose those ideas are always a part of the context, but Jackson's focus on the power of the mind, clearing the mind, calming the mind, being present in the moment (that is the big one) and then his ideas of teamwork, working together, selflessness for the sake of the team are, in my opinion, very solid.
Alot of the book is the history of the Chicago Bulls from the time Jackson joined the team as an assistant in 1987 through to their 4th championship in 1996. This was one of the great teams in the history of basketball and Jackson took a team that was a one man show, Michael Jordan, a good but not a championship team, and made them 5 or 6, I am not sure, time champions. After reading this book, I am not sure that the Bulls ever would have won a championship without Phil Jackson as coach.
Be in the moment, be present to what you are doing, live the journey, respect others, find peace and "If you meet the Buddha in the lane, feed him the ball".
----- Greg Feirman ...