Despite a record 11 NBA championships with two different franchises, former Sacramento center Scot Pollard isn’t buying Phil Jackson’s credentials as a legendary NBA coach.
Pollard told KHTK radio in Sacramento that Jacksoncoaching players like Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant, Scottie Pippen and Shaquille O’Neal during his career with the Los Angeles Lakers and Chicago.
“I just think he’s one of the most overrated coaches of our time. He’s only had the greatest players of our era on his teams. Put him in charge of the Sacramento Kings this year, and I don’t mean to offend Sacramento fans, but put him on a team with no Hall-Of-Famers on it at least no one that has established themselves as a Hall-Of-Famer already, put him as the head coach of the Cleveland Cavaliers right now and let’s see how he does next year with no Hall-Of-Famers on the team. That’s all I’m saying.”
Pollard added that he respects Jackson’s championship rings, but he has “never taken a team that wasn’t a playoff team and turned them into a playoff team.”
Jackson has had a well-publicized relationship with Sacramento and its fans since the memorable 2002 Western Division Championship series.
It’s been nine years since that series ended. And it seems like the Kings and their fans still haven’t forgiven or forgotten that Jackson called them a “cowtown.”
I’m curious if Spurs Nation shares Pollard’s thoughts on this question.