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The Philadelphia Eagles had a special guest speaker talk to the team during the midst of their virtual offseason workout program. You may have heard of him before: 11-time NBA champion head coach Phil Jackson.
The following screenshot comes via Brandon Graham’s Instagram story:
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For any non-NBA fans and/or people living under a rock out there, Jackson was the head coach when Michael Jordan’s Chicago Bulls won six championships in the 1990s. He also helped lead Kobe Bryant’s Los Angeles Lakers to five titles during the aughts.
Bryant, who tragically died in a helicopter crash earlier this year, gave a pep talk to the Eagles ahead of their Super Bowl LII run back in 2017. Maybe Jackson talking to the team can be the next good luck charm that leads to another championship. Such an outcome would certainly justify Jackson’s $75,000+ speaking fee.
In 20 seasons, Phil has compiled the best winning percentage among NBA coaches. Known as “the Zen Master” his holistic style of mentoring and motivating his players has made him a sought-out speaker and consultant by companies wishing to craft their own championship work force. During his career Phil had the challenge of getting big personalities and talent such as Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippen, Dennis Rodman, Shaquille O’Neal, and Kobe Bryant to work collectively with their respected teams. His book Sacred Hoops describes the Native American spiritual beliefs that played such an important role in coaching what became some of the best-performing teams in the country. His latest book Eleven Rings: The Soul of Success further delves into the fascinating insider details of his coaching career and how eastern philosophy influenced his leadership techniques.
The Eagles had the Zen Master, Phil Jackson, on their video call today. "He was everything you thought he would be: real chill and cool," one player said.
— Tim McManus (@Tim_McManus) May 21, 2020
(Photo via Brandon Graham's Instagram) pic.twitter.com/bJQV5XL6PA