Phil Jackson reached the NBA Finals 13 times as a head coach and guided his team to the Larry O'Brien trophy on 11 of those trips. Throughout his career, even in moments when games slipped away or circumstances turned in his favor, Jackson rarely appeared flustered. His calm presence became an essential part of his coaching identity.
However, according to legendary trainer, Gary Vitti, the 2008 NBA Finals proved to be a rare exception, as in that series the "Zen Master" let his emotions get the better of him, shouting at a bunch of Hollywood celebrities, including making Matt Damon sit on his bench like a school boy in detention.
The 2008 NBA Finals were already full of tension. Even though the Los Angeles Lakers seemed to have rediscovered their lost identity as soon as Pau Gasol arrived, building a strong push to the championship round, it was the Boston Celtics who were deemed as the heavy favorites due to their star-studded roster of Kevin Garnett , Paul Pierce and Ray Allen . Naturally, the Lakers were underdogs in that series, and their home-court atmosphere added another layer of animosity.
Vitti recalled how Jackson's frustration reached its boiling point when he saw Mark Wahlberg, Donnie Wahlberg, Matt Damon and Chris Rock — all of whom were non-Lakers fans — sitting right next to the players on the courtside seats. The irritation was already there, but it seemed to burst when the Lakers were dropping the game.
As the Celtics strengthened their hold on the game and the group of Hollywood actors cheered, Jackson made sure to voice his disdain, shouting at them with all his might.
"Who shows up in those four seats? Mark Wahlberg, Donnie Wahlberg, Matt Damon. Where are those guys from? Boston - they were all dressed in green… and then Chris Rock, who's like a Knicks fans. He's with these three. And Phil is pissed, and he's yelling at me like I had something to do with it, " Vitti recalled .
"They're like basically sitting on our bench… as soon as he (Phil) calls timeout, these three, the two Wahbergs and and Matt Damon get up, they are cheering for the Celtics, right? And Phil's already steaming about them sitting next to us, and to see them react that way. He turns around and looks at him, 'He goes, 'Sit down and shut the f—k up,'" he added.
That reaction stunned the Hollywood quartet, who surely did not expect an NBA coach to direct such intensity toward them. Vitti admitted that he covered his face while relaying his emotions to his peers because the scene was so unexpected and oddly humorous.
Vitti described Damon's reaction as resembling a nervous student being reprimanded by a stern teacher—an image that has stuck in his head even to this day. Looking back, Gary can appreciate the humor in the moment, but the story also highlights how emotionally charged the NBA Finals can become.
Even the most celebrated coach, like the Zen Master, can openly voice his frustration and lose his cool with celebrities without a second thought.
This story was originally published by Basketball Network on Mar 24, 2026, where it first appeared in the Latest News section. Add Basketball Network as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
