June 1999 was a pivotal moment in the Los Angeles Lakers’ history, as it was the month they announced Phil Jackson as their new head coach. The Zen Master took a year off coaching after guiding Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls to six NBA championships in eight seasons. The Lakers front office lured Jackson with a hefty five-year $30 million contract to return to the sidelines and coach a young squad led by Shaquille O’Neal.

An elite caliber coach like Jackson cannot be enticed by money alone. The head coach admitted that he accepted the offer because he felt they were “on the verge” of doing something special. He saw how the Lakers went all the way to the 1998 Western Conference Finals with nothing but raw talent and a thirst for victory. Phil felt he could unlock the potential of the latest iteration of the Purple & Gold.

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“It was the fact that my talents and the talent of this team did match up well together,” Jackson said, via the Los Angeles Times. “I just felt that this was something that kind of meshed.”

Old and new faces

Among all the players in the Lakers’ roster, two of them stood out. One was Shaq, whom Phil recognized from his old battles with the Orlando Magic. After all, they eliminated them in the 1995 Eastern Conference Semifinals in six games.

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“I know Shaq, I’ve been in many situations with him,” said Jackson. “I’ve got a feel for him a little bit. I think he’s not played to his ability in the last couple of seasons. He can be better than he is. He can be the most valuable player in this league.”

The other one was Kobe Bryant, the 13th overall pick in the 1996 NBA Draft by the Charlotte Hornets, whom the Lakers traded for. The previous season marked Bryant’s first year as a starter, averaging 19.9 points, 5.3 rebounds and 3.8 assists. He was even named to the All-NBA Third Team.

Non-Lakers fans remember him for jacking up four airballs against the Utah Jazz in the 1998 WCF. For Jackson, the young chap’s courageousness reminded him of a former player.

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“I’ve been very intrigued with Kobe Bryant, who I think has got Michael Jordan-esque type of ability, and yet is a player that’s still uneducated in basketball and in life. And he’s willing to learn,” Jackson praised Bryant.

Motivating the Mamba

Jackson was correct that Bryant had that Jordan-esque mentality because he intentionally patterned his game after the Bulls icon. Like Michael, Kobe developed a mid-range game, a post-up arsenal, and stuck his tongue out en route to drives to the basket. The only difference was that the Black Mamba shot at a horrendous clip. He was forcing up shots and not letting the game come to him.

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Phil, a true master of human behavior, told Bryant that he was shooting 40% from the field because he was taking 40% shots. He instructed the wide-eyed shooting guard to take smarter shots and be patient. The Zen Master ended his lecture with a clincher: “I actually told him you might become as good as Michael Jordan.” 

From then on, Bryant never faltered. Kobe proved to his coach that he was on par with Michael by helping the Lakers win the 2000 NBA Championship — the first of many.

This story was originally reported by Basketball Network on Sep 18, 2025, where it first appeared in the Old School section. Add Basketball Network as a Preferred Source by clicking here.