“That’s Why I Love Phil (Jackson)”: 5× NBA Champion Recalls Legendary HC’s Masterstroke That Cemented Him Into Bulls’ Dynasty

Phil Jackson being called one of the best is not an understatement. Winning 3 three-peats in 14 years with two different teams. The first two with the Bulls dynasty and next with the Lakers before retiring from coaching in 2004. He would eventually come back to the Lakers to add more glory to the Purple and Gold. But for the first instance, in order to take the Lakers over the hurdle, he called one former Bulls player Ron Harper.

"He gonna tell you if you can't do the job. I get somebody there that can and I can respect that as a basketball player from a head coach. He gave me opportunity to like you know not rechange what my career was but to be a part of something special and that's why I love Phil." On Gimme the Hot Sauce Podcast, the 60-year-old before thanking his coach, spoke about the difficulty in settling in.

"When I came to Chicago in 95, it was a rough year for me because I signed it late in the summertime I really didn't prepare I knew what the triangle asked me to do but I wasn't physical there yet." Because of his injury, Harper started in only 53 games that season, being the shooting guard he had to compete for the position with one Michael Jordan. But Phil Jackson had other plans.

"But Phil told me, 'Stay in shape we gonna figure out as the season go.'" The 5x NBA Champion continued, "I need you to play Penny Hardaway as tough as possible because we can't put EJ Armstrong and Steve Kerr out there. We need to play bigger. So that's when we started the big guard thing."

Yes, Phil Jackson changed Harper's position from shooting guard to a point guard. Even though the guard was already 31 years of age, he accepted the challenge. And the reason for it was very simple, as he stated in episode 201 of the podcast .

"I said 'I play point guard since I was in the eighth grade.'" Later, he also added that with Michael Jordan being the one to create the chance for, it was "easy" for Harper. Even though they lost in that season to Penny Hardaway and Orlando Magic, coach Phil Jackson found the code to the second three-peat, but does Harper have any resentment over switching roles?

Phil Jackson's style of play hurt Harper's stats Before coming to the Bulls, Harper had no championships. Yet, he produced double-digit points per season, starting from 86 with the Cleveland team. In his rookie season, he averaged 22.9 points, 4.8 assists, and 2.5 steals per game. In his last with his second team Clippers before moving to the Bulls, the 5x Champion averaged 20.1 points, 4.6 assists, and 1.9 steals.

His tweet in 2023, made the fans feel that he was unsatisfied with the Bulls . "I love scoring the ball and was good but in order too win I accept my role and won 5 in 6 years the ultimate goal... Phil jackson saw me as a point and a defense of player that could do it all... you better look at my cavs and clippers days!!!!! RESPECT."

Yes, his 11.2 points per game was his highest during his run with the Bulls. In all other years, it was in single digits, with the lowest being 6.3 during the 96-97 season. Maybe, Harper wanted to remind fans that his scoring less was because of his role in the team. Which helped him achieve 5 titles and be an integral part of Phil Jackson's plan which he earlier expressed his "love" for.