Summary

In the chapter “Chop Wood, Carry Water” Jackson is called back to the Lakers after the new coach Rudy Tomjanovich quits the job. Jackson won’t return to L.A. as he is on a long-planned trip so he agrees to skip a year, then take over the for the 2005-06 season. When Jackson does rejoin the Lakers, he believes he will be rebuilding the team from the ground up. He checks with Kobe to be sure they can work together with the player asking only that Jackson be more discreet with the media. Jackson believes the prior year’s loss was a real wake up call for Kobe.

Under the direction of the team’s new VP of player personnel, Jim Buss, Jackson is encouraged to draft Andrew Bynum. He says the addition of Bynum, as...