Have you heard of being “mummified” to win the NBA championship? That’s how famed coach Phil Jackson described mental coach George Mumford’s impact on the Chicago Bulls team which won 6 championship titles. Mumford is also renowned for his guidance to Lakers legends Shaquille O’Neal and obviously, Kobe Bryant. During his latest interview, Mumford discussed Mamba’s obsession and how he helped him channel it the right way using one technique which is mindfulness.

“Kobe was like, he had this intensity and he was trying to score 32 points or 35 points in one shot,” Mumford said about Bryant’s competitiveness to score more and dominate. This was in the year 2000. 

“And so the challenge with that is if you only score four points in the first quarter then you go into the second quarter, you feel like you gotta 12 and you’re pressing. And so what I said to him. I gave him a Zen Koan I said the best way to score is not to try to score. He got it,” Mumford explained during his appearance in the latest episode of The Unbreakable podcast.

He further stated that even quite a few years later, Bryant remembered his words. His mindfulness techniques could help athletes including the Los Angeles Lakers legend to hone their minds and body while improving their performance. Under the guidance of meditation expert and teacher Mumford, the Lakers went on to win three NBA titles. 

Phil Jackson praised George Mumford 

Mumford worked closely with Jackson and the Chicago Bulls from 1995 to 1997. After ‘His Airness’ left the team in 1993, the team was in need of a mindfulness expert. And that is when the coach met Mumford through Dr. Kabat-Zinn. Later, he also went on to help Michael Jordan transform his on-court leadership. Not just basketball, Mumford has also helped athletes from other sports, high school and college players, and more. 

“George has “Mummified” the teams I’ve coached over the past 20 years. He has a style of mindfulness that goes beyond ‘just sitting/breathing’ to focusing while in action,” Jackson said about Mumford’s contributions to his team.

In his first book, The Mindful Athlete, Mumford explained his teachings and how those changed his and others’ lives. “George helped me understand the art of mindfulness. To be neither distracted or focused, rigid or flexible, passive or aggressive. I learned just to be,” the 5x NBA champion said about George in The Mindful Athlete: The Secret to Pure Performance. 

Mumford’s career and achievements showcase how the power of mental resilience and focus help in achieving greatness.

Stay tuned for more such updates, and to follow what Shaq’s ex-agent, Leonard Armato, has to say about the infamous Shaq-Kobe feud, Caitlin Clark’s Olympic snub, and more, watch this video.