Phil Figured
So just how will Phil Jackson, who last week retired at age 65 after 20 years as an NBA coach, be remembered? How about, as these numbers suggest, as the greatest coach in NBA history?
.704
Regular-season winning percentage, best in the NBA of anyone who coached more than one year.
11
Championships, most not only in NBA history but also in any major North American sport.
65
Percentage of seasons in which his teams made the NBA Finals.
55
Percentage of seasons in which his teams won the NBA Finals.
20
Consecutive years his team won at least one playoff game, most for any coach in a major pro sport.
25
Consecutive postseason series wins between 1996 and 2003, by far the longest run in NBA history.
17
Seasons with 50 or more wins.
0
Sub-.500 seasons.
PHOTO
JOHN W. MCDONOUGH (JACKSON)