13-time NBA champion Phil Jackson rips league for scheduling choice

Drew Bishop

13-time NBA champion Phil Jackson rips league for scheduling choice  image

Since Phil Jackson ended his basketball career in 2017 as president of the Knicks, he usually avoids the spotlight.

But just like Jesus, the legendary coach rose again on Easter Sunday. 

Jackson had a bone to pick with the league regarding its scheduling of games on religious holidays like Easter and Christmas.

His first post on 'X' in over a year to his 724,000 followers was short but to the point.

It's just his third post on the social media site in seven years. Jackson was invigorated enough to go on a website he hardly uses and make a public statement about this issue. 

The religious stance shouldn't surprise anyone that is familiar with the 'zen master,' but the post from a generally reserved man is worthy noting.

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The NBA has long been known for its Christmas Day slate of games. The New York Knicks defeated the Providence Steamrollers in the first holiday game in 1974. Easter Sunday typically falls right in the first round of the playoffs annually. 

The most interesting part of this could be that Jackson has publicly denounced the league, saying in 2023 that the NBA has become too political. Yet the aforementioned post shows basketball is still on his mind to this day. 

If Jackson was in charge of the NBA, it would be a whole different league. 

Drew Bishop

Drew Bishop is a freelance writer with The Sporting News. After graduating from the Klein College of Media and Communication at Temple University, he worked in local media in Sandusky, Ohio at BCSN and the Sandusky Register, freelancing as a reporter, broadcast director and play-by-play commentator for high school sports. He then moved on to KRIS 6 News where he serves as a producer in the news department.