"I can't coach Kobe" - Phil Jackson once called the Black Mamba uncoachable during Bryant's final season with Shaquille O'Neal in LA

2024/02/06

Kobe Bryant was a five-time NBA Champion and while he may not be with us today, his basketball legend still lives on. Bryant was famously referred to as the Black Mamba for his killer instinct on both ends of the floor.

While this helped Bryant on the floor, it affected him negatively off it, to the point where he was deemed uncoachable by his coach Phil Jackson.

Jackson is one of the greatest coaches in NBA history with 11 championships.

In his 2013 book "Eleven Rings," Jackson recalled his history with Bryant which led him to famously declare:

"I can't coach Kobe."

Jackson was talking about the time period after Kobe Bryant's arrest. Bryant, who was accused of rape, was arrested on sexual assault charges in July 2003.

This came after he was married to Vanessa Bryant and had his first daughter Natalia Bryant earlier that year.

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