Phil Jackson’s Quadruple NBA Three-Peat: Bulls vs. Lakers Is the Final Chapter

Pop Quiz:  How many championship rings does Phil Jackson have?

You said eleven?  

Wisely including the two he won as a player with the Knicks in 1970 and 1973, the shrewdest amongst might even have said 13.

You are still short one.

In 1984, unable to land a high-profile NBA coaching gig, Jackson led the (now deactivated) Albany Patroons to their first ever Continental Basketball Association championship.

That means that somewhere in sunny Los Angeles is a sock drawer with fourteen championship rings inside of it.  

The story of Phil Jackson is picture perfect.  He has mastered the art of Zen, authored several books, domesticated the Rodmans and Artests of the world, led the most dominant big man of the modern era to three consecutive championships, coached one of the most iconic sports figures of all time, is the kingfish guru of the Triangle Offense, and has already made the Hall of Fame.   

No wonder he is the highest paid coach in NBA history.

Jackson's most notable accomplishments include three-peating with the Bulls in 1991, 1992, and 1993, and then doing it again in 1996, 1997, and 1998.

Unsatisfied with three-peating twice in Chicago, Jackson achieved it again with the Lakers in 1999-00, 2000-01, and 2001-02.  

Here we go again.

Jackson has been crowned in both 2009 and 2010.  With the help of Kobe Bryant, Pau Gasol, Lamar Odom and Andrew Bynum, he is looking to finish his career with his fourth three-peat.  

2011 is the year Phil Jackson has called his "last stand."  

Is there any force in the NBA capable of keeping him from his fourth three-peat and his mind-boggling 15th ring?

The perfect ending to his storybook career will involve Jackson—Kobe at his side—being handed th...

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