LeBron James won his first of four MVP awards in 2009, and Phil Jackson was among the well-wishers. However, the Zen Master was quick to remind LBJ that the hardware in June was the ultimate prize.

In Jackson's point of view, the award mattered less than the championship that followed. "I certainly think LeBron deserved it this year, maybe not by the landslide that he had, but he certainly had a ...