What does it take to be an NBA legend?

That's the question decorated NBA head coach Phil Jackson set out to answer in his new book, Masters of the Game: A Conversational History of the NBA in 75 Legendary Players, co-written with sports writer Sam Smith.

The book profiles the stars who helped define the sport. One name that comes up repeatedly is Michael Jordan , who Jackson coached to six championships.

"What so many people admired about Michael Jordan is he took the blows and went right back to the free throw line," Jackson says. "When players were playing four games in five nights at that time — which they don't do anymore — he could play ... the fifth night as hard as he played the first game in that series."

Smith notes that NBA success isn't just a question of physical stat

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