Phil Jackson is one of the NBA figures who are fortunate to have witnessed the association's growth. His wealth of knowledge stretches back to the '50s, when he watched the league's greatest players as a young kid.
As the game constantly evolves, the Zen Master felt the need to educate modern-day NBA fans about some of the legends who paved the way for their idols. In a new book he co-authored with longtime Chicago Bulls chronicler Sam Smith called "Masters of the Game," Phil took a trip down memory lane and shared everything he knew, liked and wanted to say about the NBA's Top 75 players.
In an interview about the book, Jackson hinted at what readers could expect from it. One thing he pointed out was the difference between today's NBA players and the old-timers in terms of the privileges they enjoy as athletes.
"These guys were proficient at the game and what they did," Phil said on "Fresh Air" show. "And the era that they played in didn't have the same amount of, you know, high-percentage shooting or even the access to the quality of material."
"I mean, they played in gyms that were hockey arenas and were converted and, you know, basically were still just coming out of the cage area when, you know, players played in cages. And local churches and ethnic groups had their own teams, and there were barnstormers that went around, like the Original Celtics and, you know, the various people that played that were predecessors of the NBA era," he added.
Every NBA fan can research the history of the game online. Still, Jackson believes that the information available online doesn't give justice to the impact and contributions of these old-school players.
For the 11-time champion coach, one has to hear it from someone with a deep understanding of how these legends helped shape the game. Jackson ultimately believes that it's never too late for their stories to be told and that now is the right time.
"So those are some of the things that we wanted to get across," Jackson added. "Some of these old-timers that were really influential in the game having to take a back seat because history has overlooked them."
Related: "Just don't drink the water" - When Phil Jackson got into beef with the city of New Orleans
Smith also recently had an exclusive interview with Basketball Network about the book. Like Jackson, he also shared some interesting insights into its unique content and the approach he and the legendary coach took in describing each of the NBA's 75 greatest players of all time.
"I mentioned that to Phil in noting he'd coached or played against most, so we decided to use that as the template for a book," Smith told BN. "So I took out the NBA's list and we'd sit down at his kitchen table or at a diner for lunch and I'd say, 'Bob Cousy,' and it was a free association/improv. It was more what we thought of when that name was mentioned, instead of a record of that player."
Knowing Jackson and Smith, it's safe to say that "Masters of the Game" is a perfect medium for those who yearn to learn more about the connection and differences between today's NBA and the past eras.
This story was originally published by Basketball Network on Apr 1, 2026, where it first appeared in the Off The Court section. Add Basketball Network as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
