Phil Jackson's hire was indicative of the metamorphosis the Chicago Bulls would undergo with him at the helm of the ship.

The now-famous championship coach was once a former NBA player known for his grit with two titles to his name with the New York Knicks. Yet his transition to coaching took many detours, first coaching in Puerto Rico, then moving to the Continental Basketball Association, where he won a title. Ultimately he endured a grooming process with its share of imperfections.

Episode 4 of the 10-part docuseries “The Last Dance” details just how a young Jackson was former general manager Jerry Krause's top choice to take the helm. Jackson showed up to an interview to become an assistant for Stan Albeck in a Hawaiian shirt, shorts, sandals, and a hat — a not-so-professional garb that got him dismissed from consideration.

When Doug Collins got the nod to replace Albeck, Jackson was told how to dress right this time around and got the job, second in place to Tex Winter — who was Collins' right-hand man.

Sam Smith, a former Bulls beat writer for The Chicago Tribune, wrote this piece in 1989, detailing how Collins was a “gleaming, powerful locomotive,” but “the brakes weren’t working, and the bolts were coming loose” during his tenure. This is bible reading to truly understand why the Bulls parted ways with Collins and gave Jackson the job.

Collins had banned Winter from practices after the latter repeatedly pointed out his mistakes and shortcomings. Jackson was given the silent treatment as Winter's apprentice.

Collins, greatly frustrated with his failures and soon came reaching for the hand that fed him, Jerry Krause. Collins wanted Krause fired, so that he may take his job — but owner Jerry Reinsdorf clearly saw this coming and was offended by that overreach.

Only 35 years old when given the job, Collins went 137-109 while in charge of the Bulls. Jackson would succeed him after being groomed by Winter, one of the finest minds in offensive basketball and the brains behind “The Triangle System.”

It took the Bulls a full year to fully grasp the concept of this offense, but once they did, they became unstoppable under Jackson's peculiar, but effective coaching tactics.