Los Angeles Lakers coach Phil Jackson is donating the proceeds from his “X” cap, which commemorates the Montana native’s record 10th NBA championship as a coach, to the American Indian College Fund, according to the organization’s Web site.
Jackson’s agents, Todd and Brian Musburger, surprised the former NBA coach of the year with the hat after the Lakers upended the Orlando Magic 4-1 in the NBA Finals in June. After Jackson wore the hat at the Larry O’Brien Trophy presentation and at the Lakers’ championship parade, fans flooded the Musburgers’ office with calls inquiring about the hat. They made the hats available for sale and Jackson directed that proceeds from the sales support scholarships for the fund.
Jackson also requested the fund’s logo be included on the back of the hat. He often infuses Native American spiritual practices into his coaching techniques, as documented in his 1995 book Sacred Hoops: Spiritual Lessons of a Hardwood Warrior.
