The Zen Master: How Phil Jackson became basketball's greatest coach

In 20 years of coaching at basketball's top level, Phil Jackson is widely regarded as the greatest NBA coach of all time.

Let's look back on the career of 'The Zen Master' and how he shaped decades of domination in the toughest basketball league in the world.

Prior to his astounding coaching career in the league, Jackson was a prominent power forward for the New York Knicks between 1967 and 1978.

In his time with the Knicks, the power forward got his first taste of NBA Championships. He won two in the 'Big Apple' in 1970 and 1973 – the only championships the franchise has won in its history.

After finishing his career with the New Jersey Nets in 1980, Jackson had coaching jobs in the Continental Basketball Association (CBA) and Puerto Rico's National Superior Basketball.

Whilst coaching the Albany Patroons in the CBA, the young coach started to gain recognition for his ability after winning the CBA Championship in 1984 and the CBA Coach of the Year in 1985.

After numerous rejections from the NBA, Jackson finally got what he craved, a spot as an assistant coach under Doug Collins at the emerging Chicago Bulls.

Perhaps the most enticing thing about his new role was working with the poster boy of the sport – Michael Jordan.

In 1989, Phil Jackson was named coach of the Bulls in a shock appointment, after previous coach Doug Collins had taken Chicago all the way to the Eastern Conference Finals against Detroit.

Prior to his arrival, the Bulls' sole offensive focus was Michael Jordan which allowed teams like Detroit to numb the whole team. Under Jackson, the team developed the 'Triangle offense' which got the team sharing the ball and developing other threats.

In nine seasons with Chicago, Jackson and co won six NBA titles, winning three straight championships in three years on two separate occasions.

In his years at the helm, Chicago made the playoffs every season, even when star man Michael Jordan took a break to play baseball. His team only lost the title three years in nine.

Jackson was voted Coach of the Year in 1996 and selected as an NBA All-Star Game on two separate occasions in 1992 and 1996.

Krause grew resentment for the fact he felt underappreciated for his efforts in bringing the championships to Chicago and that Jackson and the team had taken all the credit for success.

According to barstoolsports.com, Michael Jordan said, "Jerry had told Phil Jackson before the season that he could 82-0 and he still wouldn't be back" – prior to the 1997-1998 season.

After taking a year off from coaching, Jackson took over the head coaching role at the Los Angeles Lakers, who were building a talented roster.

Jackson and the 'Lake Show' were about to showcase to the world the greatest 'Two Punch' duo in NBA history.

Under the influence of Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O'Neal, the Lakers won a three-peat and Jackson's third three-peat in his career between 2000 and 2002.

Following the 2002 title victory, the tension between Shaq and Kobe caused the side to fall short in 2003 and 2004. After the finals defeat to the Detroit Pistons in 2004, Jackson left his job.

Phil Jackson made a surprise return to the Lakers franchise in 2005, a year after leaving, due to the worsening health conditions of coach Rudy Tomjanovich.

Led by Bryant again and the new Spanish sensation at the center position, Pau Gasol, Jackson, and the Lakers would go on to win another two titles in 2009 and 2010 to make it eleven rings in total in his glittering career.