Phil Jackson on race differences he saw in players' approach to the game: "White players are more often willing to work collectively"

Phil Jackson is arguably the most decorated coach in NBA history, and it's safe to say he saw it all during his time on the sidelines and in NBA front offices. One of the aspects that made Jackson a great coach was his ability to manage players and understand the nuances of dealing with each unique personality. Interestingly, according to him, the biggest hurdle he had to navigate was the different approaches he saw between white and black players throughout his journey.

Opening up in his book " Mindgames: Phil Jackson's Long Strange Journey ," the 11-time NBA champion detailed the differences he saw between races early in his coaching career.

"White players are more often willing to run patterns and to work collectively. Because of the predominance of blacks in pro basketball, the sport is rapidly disintegrating into a one-on-one sport. There are only five or six NBA teams who play with more than a superficial degree of team unity," Phil said.

"Black kids growing up want to be the superstar of their neighborhood. They want to be the toughest kids on the block, the richest, or, once they get to the playground, the best one-on-one basketball players. White kids, on the other hand, usually are raised in a more homogenous environment, which provides other outlets for personal expression," he added.

Observing generations

Unlike most coaches in league history, Jackson's tenure was long enough to witness changes across multiple eras and generations. One of those changes was the differences in professionalism and approaches to the game by players. Phil seemingly felt that while black players had more natural talent, white players had superior preparation and attention to detail in the early years of being on the sidelines.

While the game has evolved in every aspect since the 1980s and 90s, the NBA community often forgets that its general professionalism and approach have also improved over the decades.

Drawing comparisons

Jackson's comments about the particular community of a player growing up directly impacting how they approach the game are intriguing and speak to the holistic eye he had during his career.

Not everyone would be able to link basketball and individual upbringings. Although there are certainly some exceptions, there is value in his outlook, given he was able to maximize just about every player he had the privilege of coaching.

Another aspect of this that should be applauded is Jackson's courage to speak out on the topic, especially when it comes to race, which has always remained a sensitive topic in the world of sports. He wasn't malicious in his words, nor was he personally biased in his sentiment. That's what makes his insight a notable one that can be considered a key indicator of how far the game has come and how advanced the modern player is.

Jackson undoubtedly saw differences between black and white players in past eras. However, he also played a vital role in eliminating gaps or prejudices when analyzing them in the modern NBA.

Related: "His greatness will never be superseded" - Phil Jackson explains why LeBron James and Kobe Bryant could never surpass Michael Jordan