Whereas his assistant coach Tex Winter was all about the minutiae, Phil was about the scale. He taught?concepts within basketball, but more so the macro concept of?basketball. He was able to teach—without lecturing—the?importance of being a team and how to get from Point A to Point B?to Point Championship. He was also able to get guys to understand?energy, flow, and meditation.

We had a great relationship and, obviously, won a lot of games and?made Purple and Gold history together. One of the reasons our?relationship worked is because, in a lot of ways, we were polar?opposites. Every team needs either a confrontational star player or?coach. In San Antonio, Gregg Popovich was that guy and Tim?Duncan was not. In Golden State, Draymond Green is the?confrontational one; Steve Kerr is not. For us, Phil was not that type?of person, so I provided that force. You always have to have that?balance and counterbalance, and Phil and I were perfectly suited for?each other in that way.

However, it took us until our second stint together to realize how?we were perfectly suited for one another. During our first go?together, Phil thought I was uncoachable. He thought I questioned?his authority and questioned his plans. He thought I didn’t listen.?When he came back, he realized that was just me being me. He?realized that I was just very inquisitive and unafraid to ask?questions. He realized that that’s how I process information and?learn. Once he put his pulse on that, he was more patient with me.?He was more willing to sit and answer my many questions and talk?everything through.

Now, I coach my daughter’s team, and we run the triangle offense.?Recently, I called Phil and filled him in on what I was teaching the?girls. He was surprised by how much I learned from him. More than?that, he was surprised how much detail I had retained and was now?passing down.