Phil Jackson Uses Michael Jordan to Motivate Kobe Bryant

The World Famous LayupDrill Rumor Mill
5/16/09

As the Lakers prepare for their Game Seven showdown with the Houston Rockets Sunday, their coach is using some unique motivational tools to inspire his club.

The Daily News reports that Phil Jackson showed the team a compilation of video clips from Michael Jordan’s years with the Chicago Bulls. Jordan Farmar told the media, “He just said we have to go out there and make things happen.”

Hopefully, for the Lakers’ sake, that will lead to a different outcome than Game Six, which was the highest-rated NBA game in ESPN history, according to the Press-Enterprise. Over 7 million viewers watched the Rockets knock off Los Angeles, more than the previous best, the 2006 East finals that featured the Heat and Pistons.

ESPN’s Marc Stein reports that Kevin McHale will make the final decision on whether to continue as coach of the Timberwolves. According to Kevin Love, the whole team wants him back.

“I think the consensus is everybody likes him and would love to play for him again.”