Phil Jackson stopped watching NBA games due to "politics" in Covid bubble

22 April 2023 , 22:18

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Phil Jackson worked as an executive for the New York Knicks after retiring from coaching (Image: Getty Images)

Legendary NBA coach Phil Jackson claimed he no longer watches the NBA due to ‘politics’ as he referenced the slogans in support of Black Lives Matter during the Orlando bubble in 2020.

Jackson owns an incredible legacy in the NBA, winning 11 championships as both a player and coach. He was the mastermind behind the Chicago Bulls dynasty of Michael Jordan in the 1990s, as well as the Los Angeles Lakers team featuring both Shaquille O’Neal and Kobe Bryant that won three successive titles between 2000 and 2002.

However, Jackson is a somewhat controversial figure due to his outspoken views and the 77-year-old believes the NBA has evolved since his time to become too political for his liking. Jackson believes this started with the NBA bubble when the league and its players used their respective platforms to address social issues.

Jackson believes the NBA would be more positively viewed if the league wasn’t associated with politics. He views the bubble in Orlando - which saw the Los Angeles Lakers win the 2020 title - as when politics became too heavily involved in the NBA.

“They even had slogans on the floor and the baseline,” Jackson said on the Tetragrammatron podcast. “It was trying… to bring a certain audience to the game, and they didn't know it was turning other people off.

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“People want to see sports as non-political. Politics stays out of the game; it doesn't need to be there.”

Phil Jackson won six NBA championships with Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls (AFP via Getty Images)

With player empowerment such a major theme of the modern NBA, it appears Jackson’s gripes with the league will remain. He retired as one of the greatest coaches in league history 11 years ago, but his interest in basketball has deteriorated since.

“I am not enjoying the game; that's too bad,” Jackson added. “There's a whole generation that doesn't like the game. No, I don't (watch basketball). I watched the game evolve, and then they went into the lockout year and did something that was kind of w****.”

Jackson - who was seen attending a Lakers game in LA last year - appears to have an issue with the messages in support of Black Lives Matter movement in the wake of the shooting of Jacob Blake by police in Milwaukee. The Bucks went on to boycott Game 5 of their playoff contest against the Miami Heat following news of the incident.

Andrew Gamble