Perhaps with his 29th birthday celebration this week,
Carmelo Anthony should treat himself to Phil Jackson's book, "Sacred Hoops."
That's what Jackson hopes Melo, whom he called a "terrific player," purchases to learn what it takes to become an NBA champion.
"He's one step away from getting there and having that opportunity," Jackson said on Thursday during an interview on Bloomberg Radio's "Taking Stock" with Pimm Fox and Carol Massar. "Having had [a championship] as an NCAA player, it's something he must crave."
In "Sacred Hoops," Jackson describes coaching the greatest player ever, who also needed some motivation from the "Zen Master" himself.
"It's a book in which I address the fact that
Michael Jordan's a leading scorer, he's got the capability of being a terrific scorer," Jackson said, "but that he's got to get his other teammates involved and he's got to make it a team game."
"Sacred Hoops" was published in 1995, two years after the Bulls won three straight titles. Jackson has written several other books, including "Maverick: More Than a Game," "The Last Season: A Team in Search of Its Soul" and "Eleven Rings: The Soul of Success," which was released earlier this month. During his legendary coaching career, Jackson was known to give his players books to read for teaching and inspiration.
Recently, in an interview with The New York Times, Jackson also took a jab at the Knicks, saying they're still missing championship pieces.
"The Knicks still have to find some accommodating group of guys that know how to play ball together, move the ball and play the game the right way," he said.