The Netflix documentary, The Last Dance, showed us various important elements of the Chicago Bulls’ dynasty. It showed us the dedication that changed the Bulls from a good team to a championship-winning team. Former head coach Phil Jackson did everything in his power to maintain that bond. He cared about every player on the team. And this was recently put in the spotlight thanks to former Bulls player and Warrior head coach Steve Kerr sharing an insane story about Dennis Rodman.

The Worm was a player with unique skills as well as a mindset, and he took some time away from the rest of the team on occasion. In his latest appearance on The Rich Eisen Show, Kerr shared how Jackson once urged him and his former teammate Jud Buechler to spend some time partying with Rodman in Atlantic City. They did what their coach suggested them to do. However, both of them had an early morning the next day while Rodman, as a starter, had an off day.

“Phil came to Jud Buechler and me and he said, ‘Hey listen Dennis is drifting away from the team. I want you guys to go with him to Atlantic City tonight.’ We had a wild night with Dennis in Atlantic City. Stayed out all night came back to the hotel at like 7 in the morning and we had to practice and as we walked into the hotel, there was Phil looking at us, and J and I didn’t know how to behave,” Kerr said.

“Dennis had the day off because all the starters had the day off and he just turned to us and said, ‘See you later suckers,’ and it was that, that story perfectly encapsulates Phil.”

Kerr was both amazed and stunned by how Jackson understood every player and ensured to include them in the team.

The mastermind behind the Chicago Bulls dynasty: Phil Jackson

While talking about Jackson, it’s impossible not to mention the unprecedented accolades and achievements he racked up during his career. As a coach, he won 11 championship titles. After Doug Collins, Jackson took the responsibilities of head coach for the Chicago Bulls and showed his prowess as he led the team toward their first championship in his second year. 

READ MORE: Ex-bulls GM Jerry Krause, Who Feuded With Michael Jordan for Years, Shared Emotional Bond With Dennis Rodman: “Never Hurt Anybody but Himself”

Thanks to his mastermind strategy of the Triangle offense alongside assistant coach Tex Winters, he was able to amplify the players’ game. Furthermore, one strong point of his coaching was how he supported the players of his team. He would give books to motivate them or even go beyond that, as mentioned above, just so the players were contented. That ended up playing a major role in the Bulls’ success. And that helped him lead the Lakers to five championships as well.

READ MORE: “Michael Jordan Was a Star and Nobody Even Knew It”: Dennis Rodman and ‘Bad Boy’ Pistons Pushed Bulls Legend to the “Next Level”