Welcome home Phil !

Phil Jackson has experienced the sweet taste of champagne in June more than anyone could ask for in one lifetime.  He has coached the Los Angeles Lakers and Chicago Bulls to a combined 11 championships during his illustrious career.  Tack on the two rings he won as a player and you have one heck of a career. 

Phil seems to always be in the right place at the right time.  When he landed the Bulls job in 1989, Horace Grant and Scottie Pippen were both coming into their own.  Michael Jordan had experienced the pain of losing in the playoffs for five years.  The Bulls would go on to win a franchise record 55 games in Phil's first season at the helm.  After only four years in Chicago Phil had 3 rings on his mantle.

After the 1998 season the Chicago Bulls dynasty was no more.  If Michael and Scottie to returned for one more go round I'm  pretty sure Phil would have stuck around.  Instead Michael retired, Scottie resumed his career in Houston and Phil took a year off only to resurface in Los Angeles a year later.

As head coach of the Lakers the stars aligned once again for Phil.  The Lakers most threatening issue was keeping Shaquille O'Neal and Kobe Bryant from strangling one another.  If dealing with Kobe was Phil's most difficult task as coach of the Lakers, he certainly gets an A in my book.

Even as a player Phil Jackson was somewhat of a blessed child.  He fit in perfect with the brand of basketball the Knicks embodied during that era. Phil relished his role coming off the bench for the 1969-70 and 1972-73 NBA Champions.  He learned as much as he could from legendary coach Red Holzman.  Playing on those teams molded Phil's coaching style.

Overseeing basketball operations of the New York Knicks is the most difficult basketball challenge of Phil Jackson's professional career.  Sprinkling magic dust and watching the team come together is not going to cut it.

At 68 years old,  Phil appears to be well rested.  He has never given the indication that he is a basketball lifer.  The only accomplishment Phil Jackson is void of is building a team from the ground up.  This is a dicey move by the Knicks that could prove costly in the long haul. 

The New York Knicks have not won an NBA championship in 41 years.  If rolling the dice is what it takes, than so be it.