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Head coach of the Los Angeles Lakers Phil Jackson (R) talks with Shaquille O’Neal (L) 05 June, 2001, during practice for the NBA Finals at the Staples Arena in Los Angeles. The Lakers will face the Philadelphia 76ers in game one starting 06 June, 2001. (Photo: JEFF HAYNES/AFP/Getty Images)
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Head coach of the Los Angeles Lakers Phil Jackson (R) talks with Shaquille O’Neal (L) 05 June, 2001, during practice for the NBA Finals at the Staples Arena in Los Angeles. The Lakers will face the Philadelphia 76ers in game one starting 06 June, 2001. (Photo: JEFF HAYNES/AFP/Getty Images)
Shaquille O’Neal seems to be the lobby behind Phil Jackson signing with Los Angeles Lakers in 1999. After leading Chicago Bulls the way he did, any team would have loved to sign him as the coach.
As the Bulls were looking for their third successive title in 1998, there were already reports that Jackson would leave at the end of the season. O’Neal, talking on the Rich Eisen show, said the things going on between the Bulls and Jackson were, in a way good for him.
“I was glad things didn’t go well there,” he said. “Kobe (Bryant) and I were still looking for somebody to get us to the next level. So, when he was not having a good time, I went to Mr. Buss and said this is who we need.”
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After joining the Lakers, Jackson did take Kobe and Shaq to another level- both as individual players and as teammates. Both went on to become legends of the game.
Before joining the Lakers, Jackson had already earned a name for himself as one of the best in the business. He implemented his tringle offense philosophy to achieve immense success with the Chicago Bulls, coaching stars like Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippen, Denis Rodman.
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Going on a run of six titles in eight years, there didn’t seem to be a reason why someone would not want him to be a coach. “If I work with somebody who has done it before, I can follow,” O’Neal said on the show.
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Los Angeles Lakers’ head coach Phil Jackson (L) celebrates with players Kobe Bryant (R) and Shaquille O’Neal (C) after game four of the NBA Finals against the New Jersey Nets at Continental Airlines Arena 12 June 2002 (Photo: JEFF HAYNES/AFP/Getty Images)
Shaquille O’Neal won three-peat with Los Angeles Lakers under Phil Jackson
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As Shaq expected, Jackson took him, Kobe, and the team to another level. He made an immediate impact on the team upon his arrival winning a title in the first season. That would only be the start of a great run in the NBA. They would go on to win two more successive titles, culminating in a three-peat.
The period would also be of great benefit for Shaquille O’Neal. He was the Finals MVP in the three titles they won and also the MVP award in 2000. Jackson won two more titles with the Lakers in his second stint with the team.
