Los Angeles Lakers legend, Jerry West, and Hall-of-Fame coach, Phil Jackson, did not bond well during their time working together. Despite winning an NBA championship, there were internal conflicts between the General Manager and the Head Coach.
In his soon to be released biography, Jerry West had this to say about The Zen Master. “So one of the problems I had with Phil was this,” West writes. “His office was right near mine and when he would arrive in the morning, he would walk right past and never even bother to wave or duck his head in to say hello.
“Phil and I had no relationship,” West writes. “None. He didn’t want me around and had absolutely no respect for me—of that, I have no doubt.”
In another biography of about West titled ‘Jerry West,’ author Roland Lazenby writes that “The Logo” never wanted to hire Phil Jackson in the first place. And it obvious why West was upset when owner Jerry Buss added the Zen Master to the coaching staff.
Now retired Phil Jackson knew former Laker GM did not want to add him to the team, and thus they tried to stay as far away from each other as possible. West said Jackson once kicked him out of the locker-room, and was quite rude in the process.
Jerry West will most likely write more about his former colleague in his new book, so make sure you buy a copy and get the latest on the “feud.”