Phil Jackson Was Diagnosed With Prostate Cancer in 2011, Told the Lakers During Their Sweep By the Mavericks

Phil Jackson was diagnosed with prostate cancer in March 2011, the former Lakers’ coach reveals in his new book. According to the O.C. Register, Jackson revealed the bad news to his team during the playoffs as what sounds like an attempt to motivate. (The story is behind a paywall, but a Lakers’ forum has the full story.)

Whatever Jackson’s motivation for telling his team, it sounds like they were understandably shaken by the news. Whenever Jackson told them, the team was done. The Lakers were eliminated from the 2011 Playoffs by the eventual champion Dallas Mavericks in a 4-game sweep. The series ended with a 122-86 blowout in Dallas that featured Andrew Bynum’s flagrant foul on J.J. Barea.

The good news – for Jackson at least – is that he must be feeling pretty good again. People say he is interested in coaching again and there is a rumor about every team in the league making a run at him for various positions.

[OC Register, LakersGround, USA TODAY Sports Images, h/t Herbie]