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The Last Season: A Team in Search of Its Soul | 
 enlarge | Authors: Phil Jackson, Michael Arkush
Publisher: Penguin (Non-Classics)
Category: Book
List Price: $15.00
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Avg. Customer Rating:  89 reviews
Sales Rank: 43696
Media: Paperback
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 304
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.6
Dimensions (in): 7.9 x 5.4 x 0.8
ISBN: 0143035878
Dewey Decimal Number: 796.323640979494
EAN: 9780143035879
ASIN: 0143035878
Publication Date: October 4, 2005
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Condition: This book is in great condtion.
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Product Description
For the countless basketball fans who were spellbound by the Los Angeles Lakers 2003 2004 high-wire act, this book is a rare and phenomenal treat. In The Last Season, Lakers coach Phil Jackson draws on his trademark honesty and insight to tell the whole story of the season that proved to be the final ride of a truly great dynasty. From the signing of future Hall-of-Famers Karl Malone and Gary Payton to the Kobe Bryant rape case/media circus, this is a riveting tale of clashing egos, public feuds, contract disputes, and team meltdowns that only a coach, and a writer, of Jacksons candor, experience, and ability could tell. Full of tremendous human drama and offering lessons on coaching and on life, this is a book that no sports fan can possibly pass up.
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| Customer Reviews: Read 84 more reviews...
 Nice try, Phil November 2, 2007
0 out of 1 found this review helpful
This book is fairly well-scribed but definitely lacks the insight/depth that I would have preferred from a coach like Jackson. The most absurd and hypocritical part of it all is that Phil the Moneygrubbing Hippie who only wins when he has starpower, returned to the Lakers a year later---making this book basically null and void. Typical of a person of his pathetic ilk. Not a role model for anyone. And he's a mediocre coach. Phil Jackson is the Joe Torre of hoops.
 More than a penny for his thoughts September 10, 2007
I have always perceived Phil Jackson to be a an introspective and intellectually curious individual. This book has further bolstered that opinion. A fairly easy read, the depth of Phi's candor is perhaps what is most striking. He unabashedly relays his thoughts on how Shaq could be a better overall basketball if he focused on playing defense, his admiration of Karl Malone and Gary Payton for taking on diminished roles yet working hard, and then there's kobe. When this book was publicised back in 2005 in it the media (shocker) gave the impression that Kobe was villified throughout the book. Needless to say that perception is inaccurate. Although this book is about the tumultous 2003-04 season,Kobe hover's heavily over much of Phil's rumination. Phil's thoughts of Kobe are conflicted. On one hand there is the criticism of Kobe ( the aspect o of the book which the media dwelt on)his headstrong, occassional combustible personality, his refulsal to adhere to the triangle, seeming indifference, even ingratitude to the Laker's organization for their support during his rape trial, and feuds with Shaq. Phil's criticism of Kobe is tempered by him deeply analyzing the context in which the various incidents play out, and his (phil) role in agitating or diffusing the situaition. Overall, Phil seems to have a reluctant reverence of Kobe Bryant. This is mostly conveyed by how much he compares Kobe to Michael Jordan. The interpretation of this book should be subject to understading the context in which it is written. Phil's thoughts seem jarringly raw until one realizes that they were entries made into his personal journal. At that point he may be forgiven a little.
Read about what a creep Kobe Bryant really is August 31, 2007
I was curious to see just what exactly this book would be like. I mean, the "last season" was not really the kind of season that Phil Jackson was looking for when he decided to write this book. Although the Lakers did have some brewing turmoil going on inside the organization, with the additions of Gary Payton and Karl Malone, it was assumed that they were the ordained NBA Champions. Well, did not turn out that way. But the growing Shaq vs. Kobe feud provides some ammunition. I like Phil Jackson and think he is a good coach and all and I guess this book is pretty good. If you are an NBA junkie and if you are a Laker junkie, it is essential. But if you just consider yourself a casual fan, it might be a tad dry. One thing is clear, Kobe is the creep that you always thought he was and I find it so enjoyable that he is stuck on a Laker team going nowhere, while Shaq has moved on and won another championship.
 Bad writing style. August 21, 2007
The book is written in a disorderly manner. At times he jumps around so much that it's hard to follow. Entertaining and informative as far as showing life as a coach of Lakers, especially Kobe and Shaq, the two dominant players, and biggest "problem children" on the team. Two players who were just down-right childish at times (especially Kobe). Phil had an especially tough time with Kobe, the ever so narcisitic MJ wannabe.
 disapointing lack of depth July 24, 2007
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
As a casual NBA fan and admirer of all Phil Jackson has done, I bought this book hoping to find something which would provide insight into the happenings behind the scenes, how Jackson handled all the chaos, and insight into an interesting season. Unfortunately Jackson's book does not weave a single cohesive theme. It is presented as a series of disjointed diary entries which spend far too much time focusing on recapping the most recent basketball game. Although there are some interesting noted in the book, some of which are highlighted in other reviews (and some of which made the news), they are few and far between, and usually buried in piles of game analysis and box score review. I hope Phil Jackson keeps his day job.
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