Hi,
Please provide any information about the relationship between Michael
Jordan and his coach Phil Jackson.  Has Phil been Jordan's main coach
or is there another coach?  Didn't Jordan say that he would no longer
play if Phil were no longer his coach?  I'd like to know about their
dynamic plus the value Jordan placed on Jackson.  Thanks

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Request for Question Clarification by endo-ga on 15 Nov 2003 11:01 PST

Hi,

I remember at the time, Jordan said he would not play for the Bulls
without Jackson or Pippen. This was in 1997 I think.

Hope this helps.
Thanks.
endo

the first coach michael jordan and the bulls had in the NBA was Doug Collins.

they achieved moderate success together, but nothing big.

Jackson was Doug Collins's assistant until 1988 when he became the head coach

Jordan liked Jackson so much that yes, at some point he said he would
not play for any other coach.

Despite that, the bulls management made it clear that they did not
want to have jackson back (for reasons i do not know).  Jordan kept
his promise and retired.

When he UN-retired he kind of broke his promise because when he played
for the wizards for two years his coach was NOT phil jackson - it was
doug collins again.