Remember that time when Rudy Tomjanovich was the head coach for like 41 games?
In one of those times where if you blinked, you missed it, Rudy Tomjanovich came out of retirement to coach the Los Angeles Lakers. Yes, the guy the coined the phrase, “Don’t ever underestimate the heart of a champion”. He disappeared after getting a 24-17 record. To this day, I still didn’t understand the move.
After steering the Lakers to four straight Finals appearances with three championships, Jackson’s contract was not renewed. Many connected Jackson’s exit to Kobe Bryant, who was believed to be tiring of Jackson’s triangle offense.
It’s hard to believe that the Lakers would dismiss Jackson three days after the loss to the Pistons. Phil Jackson, like Shaquille O’Neal, was looking for money from the Lakers, too. He wanted his salary to jump from $6 million to $12 million.
Jackson’s departure shined an unflattering light on Bryant, as it looked like a power move to make the team his. It did lead O’Neal to believe that the franchise was catering to Bryant’s wishes with the departure of Jackson.
That fall, Jackson released The Last Season, a book which describes his point of view of the tensions that surrounded the 2003–04 Lakers team. The book was pointedly critical of Kobe Bryant.
One year of Kobe Bryant facing defenses used for only Wilt Chamberlain showed that Jackson was the only coach Kobe could count on if he ever wanted to win a title again. Funny how attitudes change when a player (Kobe) misses the playoffs, while his nemesis (Shaq) makes two conference finals series and a title in consecutive seasons.
But let’s be clear here.