The Last Season: A Team in Search of Its Soul Paperback – October 4, 2005

I bought this book because I am one of those Laker haters for the same reason I am also one of those Yankee haters; I root against teams that win all the time and that are favorites to win a world championship year after year. Before the 2003/04 NBA season, I grimaced when I first heard the Lakers were getting Karl Malone and Gary Payton. I thought it was the rich getting richer and a lot of sports analysts thought so too as they were almost giving the NBA title to LA before the season started and some believed this Lakers squad could challenge Phil Jackson's Chicago Bulls' regular season win record. I was disappointed that Malone joined the Lakers. After spending one of the longest and most successful careers in Utah (a place in which a lot of players wouldn't want to stay), he jumps on the wagon that appears to be on the fastest, easiest route to a championship (again, the rich get richer). That seemed like an almost traitorous way to win one's only title, so I'm glad it did not happen. I bought Jackson's The Last Season to savor in the Lakers' "demise" (well, they did get to the finals which, after game 2 of the San Antonio series, a lot of people, including myself, did not think was possible, so spoiled Laker fans shouldn't be too bummed).Right on the first page, Jackson writes that he "didn't want this book to be about the small petty gossip that makes up a lot of the NBA world" (p. 1). Don't worry, there is plenty of gossip in this book. He does not bore the reader with X's and O's, although there is some strategy explained when discussing different match-ups. A lot of this book is about Jackson's relationship with owner Jerry Buss, general manager Mitch Kupchak, opinions on such NBA spokesmen as Dallas Maverick's coach Mark Cuban, Rick Fox and Karl Malone's frustration over injuries, Gary Payton's tantrums about the triangle offense, and, of course, the on-going feud between Kobe and Shaq. The book is written like a journal but is very comprehensive and flows very well. I was fascinated by the behind-the-scenes look at the Lakers organization. Their preparation for games I found to be very interesting. At one point in the season, Jackson exposed his players to an aspect of his Buddhist beliefs with a meditation session (Jackson admits he does not think it affected most of the players). He also had clips from the movies Shrek or Miracle on Ice inserted in their film sessions (p. 191). Jackson is candid about Kobe's ball-hogging tendencies and Shaq's abysmal free throw shooting. During the Houston series in the playoffs, Shaq practiced shooting free throws from a foot back which Jackson thought was less than constructive (p. 162). Often, Jackson compares his Laker teams unfavorably to his Bulls teams in terms of preparation and attitude towards the game. Jackson's complaints throughout the book on everything from game start times (p. 95), fines (p. 96), and foul calls (many pages) made me think the coach of the Sacramento Kings wrote the book.Of course, Shaq and Kobe is the draw to this book, and Jackson does not disappoint the readers. A lot of the petty squabbles are described here. Some of the high lights include Kobe and Shaq only wanting certain photographers (the opposite for each) filming them during practice (p. 110). The Lakers helped pay for Kobe's flights to Colorado for his hearings and Kobe complained the plane was not luxurious enough (p. 32). One of the bad omens in the Detroit series was Shaq blowing up at 82-year-old assistant coach Tex Winter (pp. 232-33). Then, in the end, Kobe tells Jackson he no longer wants to be Shaq's "sidekick" thus completing the stage for Shaq's exit (p. 258). Jackson visited a therapist to help him deal with the Shaq/Kobe factor. Of course, Jackson probably only covers the tip of the iceberg, but it still makes for fascinating reading. Check out this eyebrow-raising line: "This was another example of the basic difference between him [Shaq] and Kobe. Ask Shaq to do something and he'll say: "No, I don't want to do that." But after a little pouting, he will do it. Ask Kobe, and he'll say, "okay," and then he will do whatever he wants" (p. 38). After reading this book, I cannot believe the rumors that Jasckson will return as coach of the Lakers. No way. But, then again, after reading Terrell Owens' book, I never would've guessed he would fire his beloved agent and seek a new contract with Philly, so one never knows. Whether you are a Laker hater, a Laker fan, or are just fascinated with the personalities of the NBA, I definitely recommend this book.

I just read this book recently, although I had been meaning to for years, as I very much enjoyed reading Phil’s “Sacred Hoops,” in which he provided backstory for his Zen Master approach to coaching, and also chronicled his years coaching the Chicago Bulls through their first 3-peat. I had often wondered why things fell apart with the Lakers in 2004, as that team was loaded with talent and had already had so much success in 2001-03. In my reading of this book, Kobe Bryant definitely seems to be the main character, and the main source of all the drama. Though Phil doesn’t directly blame Kobe for the Lakers’ demise, it is quite evident when reading between the lines that Kobe’s ego was out of control and that he was having serious trust issues with basically everybody after the rape allegation. Having just watched “The Last Dance” documentary a couple months ago, I found myself making connections between Phil’s relationship with MJ and Phil’s relationship with Kobe. MJ had already earned all the individual accolades there were to earn before Phil became the head coach, so Mike was desperate to win a championship and not just be known as a great scorer, which made him open to change. Kobe, meanwhile, never had a chance to establish his individual greatness first, as Phil was there from the outset of his career, as was Shaq. And Shaq was the man on those 2001-03 championship teams; Shaq was the one winning all the finals MVP’s. The way I read it is, Kobe’s insane desire to emulate Mike was largely Phil-based. He wanted to prove to Phil that he was every bit as good as Mike, and every bit as worthy of Phil’s respect. And the reason Kobe was so unwilling to be Shaq’s “sidekick,” despite the fact that they were winning rings together, was because, unlike Mike, he had never had the space to be the alpha before winning a championship. He could never be “like Mike” as long as Shaq was there. As for my five-star rating of the book, I just feel that Phil is a very good storyteller. This book was a fun read, a fast read, and a very interesting read. If nothing else, it shows us that people who seem to have it all in life can be the most petty and insecure people in the world.

I moved to LA at the end of the "Showtime" era of Magic, Kareem and James Worthy, and went through withdrawal like most fans during the slow, frustrating rebuilding years before Phil arrived on the scene. I had a lot of respect for Phil during his years with the Bulls, and was excited to see what he could do with the dysfuntional team he inherited. It turned out to be a pretty amazing run, but I, like most fans in LA, felt it was always overshadowed by the ongoing soap opera of Shaq and Kobe.This book provides a very insightful look into a pro sports team and the world of the NBA, as well as a peek into the psyches of Phil, Shaq and Kobe. Contrary to some reviewers comments, I think Phil had every right to do a book of this nature. It's not a tell-all expose, just an honest, soul-searching look at a frustrating season of dealing with huge egos (including his own, he admits) and the pain of losing the prize after all the team had been through. There's a lot of heart and soul in this book, and you never get the impression that he was dishing on Kobe just to sell copies.Phil delivers his story with wit and insight, yet never professes to know all the answers. This is a solid book that will become a sports classic in the years to come.