Michael Jordan’s evolution under Phil Jackson surpassed his early days with Doug Collins, according to Kevin Durant Kevin Durant has offered a unique perspective on Michael Jordan’s career, highlighting how his development under Phil Jackson’s coaching surpassed his earlier years with Doug Collins. Durant emphasized that while Jordan’s scoring prowess remained consistent, the shift in systems and team dynamics under Jackson’s leadership elevated his overall impact. Durant acknowledged the foundational role Doug Collins played in Jordan’s rise, noting that the Chicago Bulls’ star emerged as the league’s most unstoppable scorer during Collins’ tenure. Jordan led the NBA in scoring each of the final three seasons Collins coached, averaging a league-high 37.1 points per game. However, Durant pointed out that the Bulls’ struggles to translate Jordan’s individual brilliance into sustained success were tied to a system that relied heavily on Jordan’s ball-dominant style. The transition to Phil Jackson’s coaching in the 1989-90 season marked a pivotal shift. Jackson introduced the triangle offense, which prioritized spacing, structure, and collective execution. While Jordan remained the focal point, his role evolved to include more efficient scoring and trusting his teammates. Durant argued that this shift allowed Jordan to elevate his game beyond raw scoring, transforming him into a system-driven leader. Durant described the difference between Jordan’s early days and his later era under Jackson. “When Doug Collins was the coach, it was MJ just taking everybody off the dribble from the top of the key, just playing a lot of solo ball,” Durant said on a recent episode of The Boardroom. “Once Phil came in, implemented a system, and everybody moving; it slowed his game.#michael_jordan #kevin_durant #chicago_bulls #phil_jackson #triangle_offense
