"They look like turned-on lightbulbs out on the court" - Phil Jackson once mocked white players with bald heads

Yahoo

4 hours ago

"They look like turned-on lightbulbs out on the court" - Phil Jackson once mocked white players with bald heads originally appeared on Basketball Network.
As a master of his craft, former Chicago Bulls head coach Phil Jackson was known for his keen attention to the intricate nuances of the game. His approach to his job went beyond just in-game coaching as he also delved deeply into understanding and analyzing the strategies/tactics employed by opposing teams.
Advertisement
A notable example was when Coach Jackson commented on the shaved heads of the entire Indiana Pacers and Charlotte Hornets teams during the 1998 playoffs.
For Jackson, this bold move was clearly an expression of unity among the players, which he appreciated. However, the Zen Master had one particular concern about the respective teams' grand gesture — how the bald hairstyle looked on the white players.
"I noticed that the Pacers and the Hornets all shaved their heads as a show of solidarity in the other series. But I wish the white guys would use that instant tanning stuff for their heads," Jackson said at the time. "[Rik] Smits, [Vlade] Divac, [Chris] Mullin -- they look like turned-on lightbulbs out on the court."
Phil wasn't a fan of uniformity
Unlike many of his contemporaries, Jackson upheld team unity with a subtler touch. While other coaches often made a statement to demonstrate their teams' solidarity, Jackson preferred a more understated approach. He also understood the value of camaraderie but didn't feel the need to express it through overt displays.
Advertisement
For the record, Coach Jackson held no disdain for those teams that embraced the theatrical, rallying their players with loud battle cries and dramatic gestures. As per The Zen Master, he also had his ways of fostering a sense of solidarity and harmony among his players, particularly during his time with the Bulls. However, agreeing to let all his players go bald wasn't one of them.
"That will never happen with us," the legendary coach said of the idea of the Bulls players getting their heads shaved. "We started the black shoes in the playoffs back in the '80s, and that's about as far as we'll go with that."
"We wear black socks with the black shoes," Jackson pointed out. "But the NBA polices equipment! The latest problem was that the white ankle tape showed, so players had to have black tape to be in code. Every variation — wristbands, socks, compression tights, headbands — requires no logos and complete uniformity."
Related: "He never ever allowed Air Jordan to enter into the locker room" - BJ Armstrong said Michael Jordan was very different behind the scenes
Coach Jackson had always been unconventional
Instead of embracing the drama, Phil focused on building a cohesive environment that encouraged collaboration and mutual respect. He purposely allowed his team's natural chemistry to develop without exaggerated displays or lengthy lectures.
Advertisement
"This is what I was trying to do with the Bulls. My goal was to act as instinctively as possible to allow the players to lead the team from within," Jackson once said of his coaching style with the Bulls. "I wanted them to be able to flow with the action, the way a tree bends with the wind. That's why I put so much emphasis on having tightly structured practices."
Throughout his illustrious coaching career, Phil exemplified greatness in unconventional yet exceptional ways. He proved time and again that even if intriguing things happened in the league, nothing could faze Jackson from helping his team achieve its goal.
Related: Phil Jackson on race differences he saw in players' approach to the game: "White players are more often willing to work collectively"
This story was originally reported by Basketball Network on Jun 22, 2025, where it first appeared.