• Skip to main content
  • Skip to header right navigation
  • Skip to site footer
Larry Brown Sports

Larry Brown Sports

Brown Bag it, Baby

  • Home
  • Blog View
  • NFL
  • NCAAF
  • NBA
  • MLB
  • Media
  • Headlines
  • Podcast
BasketballKobe BryantPhil Jackson

Phil Jackson calls Kobe Bryant ‘a chosen one’ in statement on his death

January 26, 2020 by Darryn Albert • Comments
FacebookTweetLinkedInRedditThreadsWhatsAppEmail
Phil Jackson

Phil Jackson

Kobe Bryant’s former coach offered a touching tribute to the Mamba after his sudden passing on Sunday.

Phil Jackson, who coached Bryant during all five of his championships with the Los Angeles Lakers, reacted to the news in an official statement.

“The crash was a tragedy for multiple families,” Jackson wrote. “My heart goes out to Vanessa and the families that lost loved ones. Kobe was a chosen one — special in many ways to many people. Our relationship as coach/player transcended the norm. He went beyond the veil.”

Jackson was Bryant’s head coach on the Lakers for 11 seasons from 1999 to 2004 and again from 2005 until Jackson’s retirement in 2011. While their relationship was tumultuous at times (as detailed in Jackson’s 2004 book “The Last Season” where he described Bryant as “uncoachable), the two remained close even after Bryant’s retirement as a player in 2016.

The 74-year-old Jackson will always be the coach most associated with Bryant, and he has to be as shocked as everybody else is by the tragedy.

More Larry Brown Sports coverage of Kobe Bryant’s death:

Don’t miss any news
– Follow Larry Brown Sports on Twitter
– Join our Facebook group
– Download the Larry Brown Sports app on your iOS device
– Subscribe to our newsletter (sign up here)

Other victims of the helicopter crash:
– John Altobelli, junior college baseball coach, also died in helicopter crash
– Christina Mauser, girls’ basketball coach, among the helicopter crash victims

Tributes to Kobe:
– Dallas Mavericks retire Kobe Bryant’s No. 24 jersey
– Video: Raptors, Spurs start game with amazing tribute to Kobe Bryant
– Shaq posts heartfelt tribute to Kobe Bryant
– Michael Jordan releases statement on death of ‘little brother’ Kobe Bryant
– Video: Doc Rivers breaks down crying talking about Kobe Bryant
– Phil Jackson calls Kobe Bryant ‘a chosen one’ in statement on his death
– NBA commissioner Adam Silver issues statement on death of Kobe Bryant
– Video: Dwyane Wade posts emotional message reacting to Kobe Bryant’s death
– Kendrick Perkins extends olive branch to Kevin Durant after Kobe Bryant’s death
– Video: Emotional Mike Breen sums up NBA world’s emotions about Kobe Bryant’s death
– Trae Young’s huge game was full of Kobe Bryant-related statistical coincidences

More coverage:
– Media errors, rumors, poor judgment run rampant in reporting of Kobe Bryant news
– Kobe Bryant checked in on Shaq’s son Shareef morning of helicopter crash
– No, Rick Fox did not die in helicopter crash that killed Kobe, Gianna Bryant
– Lakers fans start memorial to Kobe Bryant outside Staples Center
– Kobe Bryant’s last tweet was congratulating LeBron James on passing him
– Sports world stunned over Kobe Bryant news
– Kobe Bryant dies in helicopter crash – dead at 41

Don’t miss any news
– Follow Larry Brown Sports on Twitter
– Join our Facebook group
– Download the Larry Brown Sports app on your iOS device
– Subscribe to our newsletter (sign up here)


  • i want more great stories!

Sign up today for free and get the best sports content sent to your inbox.

You can unsubscribe anytime. For more details, review our Privacy Policy.

.
LBS iPhone App
Get the App

Follow Us

Get instantly notified of the most viral news stories via Google!

  • Trending stories

Damian Lillard looks on

3 reported frontrunners emerging for Damian Lillard

5 days ago
Ben Shelton with a cupping mark

Why Ben Shelton has dark marks on his arm, shoulder

September 8, 2023 (Updated: February 11, 2025)
KaVontae Turpin on the practice field

Cowboys player arrested on drug and gun charges

July 6, 2025
Angel Reese in a jersey

Angel Reese fires back at Robert Griffin III over his Caitlin Clark claim

3 days ago
Rafael Devers in the dugout

New unflattering rumor about Rafael Devers surfaces

5 days ago

Sidebar

© 2025 · LB Sports Media Group Inc

  • X
  • Facebook
  • YouTube
  • Instagram
  • RSS Feed
  • About
  • Contact
  • Editorial Process
  • Staff Writers
  • Privacy Policy
Dedicated to the memory of Nevil Vega