LeBron James caused a massive stir with his decision to sign with the Miami Heat in 2010, paving the way for a Big Three that also starred Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh.
With expectations soaring, legendary coach Phil Jackson was asked to shed some light on the situation.
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At the time, Jackson was coaching the Los Angeles Lakers, who had just won back-to-back championships in 2009 and 2010. En route to his fourth three-peat, he faced his biggest challenge against the newly assembled Heat. However, the Zen Master was not bothered by all the noise.
“They got great talent. There’s no question about their talent they have. But talent doesn’t always win. The team that shows the best teamwork will win it. We think that (the Lakers) have established something. But, if (the Heat) can unite and build quickly, they might be able to do it,” stated Jackson, who had eleven titles to his credit as an NBA coach.
Jackson, the architect behind some of the greatest dynasties in the NBA, such as the Bulls and Lakers, knew the drill when it came to winning at the biggest stage. Over the years, he had guided greats like Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippen, Shaquille O’Neal and Kobe Bryant to multiple NBA titles.
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Phil substantiated his argument
Jackson cited the example of the 1968-69 Lakers team when discussing why talent alone was not the sole determinant of winning a championship. In what many perceived as the first-ever superteam, Wilt Chamberlain teamed up with Elgin Baylor and Jerry West.
“I always refer to when Wilt Chamberlain was traded from Philadelphia to Los Angeles and that put (Elgin) Baylor, (Jerry) West and Chamberlain together – three of the top scorers in NBA history – and they never won a championship together the four years they were together,” mentioned Jackson.
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Despite all the regular-season success and individual accolades, the Lakers trio came up short when it mattered most. They suffered back-to-back defeats in the 1969 and 1970 Finals against the Celtics and Knicks, with both losses coming in Game 7.
The trio finally accomplished their championship ceiling in 1972. That said, Baylor had already retired early in the season due to injury, but he received his ring nonetheless.
Getting it right with his Heat projections
In his final year as head coach during the 2010-11 season, Jackson failed to record a fourth three-peat. The Lakers were swept in the semi-finals by the Mavericks. It was not the end he had hoped for, but Phil did get it right when it came to his predictions about the Heat Big 3.
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Making the Finals, the Heat faced the Mavericks, with the odds heavily stacked in favor of the former. Starting strong, Coach Erik Spoelstra and crew took a commanding 2-1 lead. Things would take a tragic end as the Mavs prepared for a historic comeback, winning the next three games and they achieved the unthinkable, winning their first-ever title in franchise history, led by Dirk Nowitzki and a bunch of role players around him.
Jackson certainly had the foresight, which is why he is considered as one of the greatest coaches of all time. Having dealt with a variety of diverse personalities and situations, he knew what it took to succeed on the biggest stage.
You can’t win without talent, but it doesn’t matter how talented you are if you don’t click as a team.
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This story was originally reported by Basketball Network on Sep 1, 2025, where it first appeared in the Old School section. Add Basketball Network as a Preferred Source by clicking here.