Phil Jackson: Lebron Doesn't Belong In The NBA

Jackson weighs in on James, says Cav came out too
early

BY BRIAN WINDHORST

Knight Ridder Newspapers

EL SEGUNDO, Calif. - (KRT) - LeBron James shouldn't be
in the NBA.

That's the opinion of a man with nine NBA championship
rings and the resulting authoritative position.

It's not the talent nor the skills that Los Angeles
Lakers coach Phil Jackson thinks is missing. It's the
ability to deal with daily life. And no matter what
James has shown him so far or will show him Monday
night when the Cavaliers visit his injury-riddled
team, he's not going to change his mind. He doesn't
think teen-agers belong.

``I don't care who they are, it doesn't matter if they
can play or not,'' Jackson said after the Lakers' held
a workout Sunday. ``It's life skills, it's experience,
it's dealing with whatever's out there. The NBA has to
be able to wait, our talent people have to be able to
wait.''

http://www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercurynews...rts/7687388.htm

 

Well...I've always believed in having a year or two experience in college before going to the NBA. If you can graduate then fine.

 

<div class="quote_poster">Quoting InNETSweTrust:</div><div class="quote_post">Well...I've always believed in having a year or two experience in college before going to the NBA. If you can graduate then fine.</div>

Yeah experience is always good, but look at what he's doing. He's something special....maybe PJ is just ailed that Kobe isn't productive as of late, for obvious reasons of course. PJ's opinion will probably change over time for there's no denying that LBJ is gonna be big. I just feel somewhat sad seeing him speak ill of him like that.

 

Who the hell is Phil Jackson to be making such claims of Lebron in the first place? Out with the old, in with the new. He has enough to worry about then to worry about if LeBron is too young to be in the leauge......

 

<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Magic Johnson:</div><div class="quote_post">Yeah experience is always good, but look at what he's doing. He's something special....maybe PJ is just ailed that Kobe isn't productive as of late, for obvious reasons of course. PJ's opinion will probably change over time for there's no denying that LBJ is gonna be big. I just feel somewhat sad seeing him speak ill of him like that.</div>


Yup. No doubt about it. He's handling it well. But still, a year or two college experience would be great. I'm sure it would've made him better.

 

<div class="quote_poster">Quoting InNETSweTrust:</div><div class="quote_post">Yup. No doubt about it. He's handling it well. But still, a year or two college experience would be great. I'm sure it would've made him better.</div>

Not better than a year or 2 in the pros, come on now. Phil is just being the "Zen Master" trying to hype up this game. The article even talked about Kobe helping Phil win 3 titles, and LeBron is having a far better rookie season than any high schooler in the NBA's history, I mean the numbers/impact is not even close (No Moses does not count, he played in the ABA out of HS)

Phil just picked up thousands and thousands of more viewers for tonights game, that is why he is who he is.

 

^ Just imagine if he picked up more fundamentals by playing for your school. He'll develop more passion and intensity. Plus the hunger to win. Should I say Tim Duncan?

 

<div class="quote_poster">Quoting InNETSweTrust:</div><div class="quote_post">^ Just imagine if he picked up more fundamentals by playing for your school. He'll develop more passion and intensity. Plus the hunger to win. Should I say Tim Duncan?</div>

For every Tim Duncan there are a 5000 stiffs that went to college and show nothing.

Trajan Langdon anyone?

Kobe Bryant, Tracy McGrady, Keven Garnett, Amare Stoudemire, Moses Malone.

The success rate of high schoolers to go pro destroys the success rate of any college kid in the pros.

 

I think I can understand where he's comin' from. Yano..the whole crawl before you walk type thing because let's be real..going from high school to the professional ranks is like going from the frying pan to the fire. College does indeed help prepare you for whats to come..expectations and all that and it helps you intergrate your playing time with other duties and obligations(in college it would be studies,homework etc. I can see where Phil is comin' from because it makes sense..we have tons of people not ready for the L(not talent wise but mentally)come in and they get gobbled up and spit back out....


I'm not saying this pertains to Lebron,because I think he's doing a fab job so far. Kid is off the chain in a big way,I just think Phil is saying that this type of thing could be very bad for the league in the long run. My two cents anyway.

 

add Jermaine O'Neal to that list.

 

Well Shaq did some college years and it made him rich.

But still, just imagine if the kid has college experience. Dexter is the best at explaining the beauty of college basketball.

I have no doubt that LJ is ready for the league. But still, I couldn't help but wonder what one or two years of college can do for him.

 

Could you cats imagine a Cincy Bearcats squad with Lebron? How bout a Duke squad led by Kobe back a few years ago?

 

<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Mr_Infante:</div><div class="quote_post">add Jermaine O'Neal to that list.</div>

We can add a lot more to the last, I just can't believe how blind people are with the failures of these polished college kids that have stunk it up trying to get into the pros. Bottom line, you have it, or you don't.

I just thionk that it is mostly college fans that would like to see some more action put into the college game.

Lets not even talk about the money or what you would do in that situation of the player, ya know? Plus the risk of injury is huge too.

NBA you go to work, college you go for the schooling or the experience of the college game if you want it. It is not for everybody however.

 

<div class="quote_poster">Quoting The Black Widow:</div><div class="quote_post">Could you cats imagine a Cincy Bearcats squad with Lebron? How bout a Duke squad led by Kobe back a few years ago?</div>

College basketball would be amazing yes, just think about what KG would have done?

But that is just being biased toward the college game as a fan, ya know? (hell yes I would be right there tourny time though :mrgreen: )

 

People really do get caught up with going to college being a "much do" to make you a much better player.Some kids look to their future as a professional basketball player knowing if they go to college their career could be damaged because of injury.Missing out on the big bucks as your value does down as the season goes on.If you feel you are ready and want to live your dream then jump to the NBA.Guys that go to college to play their ball aren't only there for basketball.To A lot of people going to college is very important.Getting an education to fall back on means so much for those players and their familes.

 

Well man,look at it like this...for every Kevin Garnett we have a Tony Kappen...for every Jermaine O'Neal we have a Reggie Harding...for every Kobe we have a Korleone Young. The problem isn't the players themselves IMO it's the agents,coaches and various people runnin' the camps and what-not. They pump these kids up to think that they walk on water,and most of 'em arent really ready for the league.

You can't really compare college players to high schoolers because the numbers dont match up. There are 5 times more college players entering the L than high schoolers so the success/failure rates are gonna be lopsided. I still think in most instances college is the best thing overall.

 

It's all a risk any way you look at it, and there is no clear cut path for the player to take.

Fair way to put it?

 

<div class="quote_poster">Quoting King James:</div><div class="quote_post">It's all a risk any way you look at it, and there is no clear cut path for the player to take.

Fair way to put it?</div>


I agree 100%. It is indeed a player to player basis.

 

I'm really surprised to hear this, especially from someone like Phil Jackson. Both of our young teenage stars are performing excellently. Plus, he has more important problems than thinking about LeBron being in the NBA.

 

Phil Jackson is a below avergae coach.. I mean he has only "coached" the best player & not 2 of the greatest players ever.. How hard it that.

Put Phil on a abover averga team and coach that ...and I bet that team would suck! He doesn't do anything???

Pat Riley found out this.. his ego was smashed down.

as for the topic.. I guess he doesn't want any kid in the league..

* I think you should have to go play college for 1 year.