Legendary head coach Phil Jackson always had unique communication skills, which he used to great effect while coaching the Chicago Bulls and the Los Angeles Lakers. Instead of spoonfeeding players with the message he wanted to convey, he often used subtle methods to get his point across.
This approach, however, occasionally left room for misinterpretation — such as when Jackson used a term that LeBron James found offensive while discussing his departure from the Miami Heat.
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A breakdown in communication
In an interview with ESPN’s Jackie MacMullan, Jackson touched on Bron’s departure from the Miami Heat, a team he led to two straight NBA titles, in the summer of 2014. According to the decorated coach, who was then the New York Knicks’ president, part of the issue lay in LeBron’s insistence on being given preferential treatment.
“When LeBron was playing with the Heat, they went to Cleveland and he wanted to spend the night. They don’t do overnights. Teams just don’t. So now (coach Erik) Spoelstra has to text Riley and say, ‘What do I do in this situation?'” Jackson stated. “And Pat, who has iron-fist rules, answers, ‘You are on the plane, you are with this team.’ You can’t hold up the whole team because you and your mom and your posse want to spend an extra night in Cleveland.”
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“I do know LeBron likes special treatment. He needs things his way,” Phil added.
While LeBron did not react to Phil’s statement about his request for the team to stay overnight in Cleveland so he could have the team over for Thanksgiving dinner, what he took offense to was the use of the term “posse,” which, in urban slang, refers to a group that hangs around a celebrity. LeBron felt that this term was disrespectful and racially charged, as it implied that he and his management team were up to no good.
Discredited his friends
LeBron and his close-knit circle have come a long way from Akron, Ohio. After meeting Maverick Carter and Rich Paul in Akron, LeBron befriended the two young men who would become his closest friends and business partners. Together, they have established a business empire that spans sports and entertainment.
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That said, Jackson’s use of the term “posse” seemingly diminished the hard work and dedication that LeBron and his team have put into building their success.
“I felt like that I wanted to put my guys in a position of power and give those guys an opportunity to better themselves. And you know, in the beginning we were highly criticized and I was highly criticized about what I wanted to do to help some guys around me become very successful in business,” LeBron expressed.
“And, you know, it just sucks that now at this point, having one of the biggest businesses that you can have both on and off the floor, having a certified in Rich Paul, having a certified business partner in Maverick Carter that has done so many great businesses, that the title for young African-Americans is the word ‘posse,'” he continued. “So, for me, we see the success that we had, but then there’s always someone that lets you know how far we still have to go as African-Americans.”
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For Carmelo Anthony, then the Knicks’ superstar who also happens to be one of James’ closest friends, it didn’t make sense why Jackson would drag his friend through the mud, given the struggles their team was going through during the 2016-17 season.
“I just don’t understand him talking about LeBron right now in November. I don’t understand that,” Melo said.
In typical Jackson fashion, he never backtracked on his comments and issued a public apology for his comments regarding LeBron and his friends. However, such was Phil’s character, a man who seemed to have all the answers when it came to basketball but was purposely vague when it came to communicating with others.
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This story was originally reported by Basketball Network on Sep 9, 2025, where it first appeared in the Off The Court section. Add Basketball Network as a Preferred Source by clicking here.