Phil Jackson Through the Years

Jackson served as a player/assistant coach for the New Jersey Nets for two seasons before retiring in 1980. After another season as an assistant coach and a brief stint as a Nets broadcaster, Jackson was hired as head coach of the CBA's Albany Patroons in the middle of the 1982-83 season. He won the CBA championship in his first full season on the bench, and went 117-90 in five seasons.