A surprising new report from the Orange County Register has left many basketball fans stunned this week, and it involves one of the sport's most prominent names.

Phil Jackson, known to many as the "Zen Master" for his calm approach and spiritual presence, has recently revealed in his new book that he knew he had prostate cancer during the Laker's 2011 playoff run.

The former Lakers coach kept so quiet about it that not only did the usually public sports world have no idea about his disease, but for a long time, neither did his team. In typical Jackson fashion, he waited for the opportune time to let his team know.

During the playoffs, Jackson noticed his team's lack of energy and passion, and finally decided enough was enough. During a pep talk he informed them of his own personal struggles in an attempt to will the squad to victory

"Shocking," Pau Gasol said Saturday, recalling Jackson's talk with the team. "But then you also could understand certain moments of his demeanor, energy and involvement because of what he was going through health-wise. It explained certain things. It was a shock. A difficult moment for the team."

Jackson was informed that he could take medication to help delay the spread of his cancer while his team was in the playoffs, and received proper treatment once the season was over. The Lakers feel to the Mavericks in the Western Conference finals in a four game sweep that year.

Gasol said that it was hard to see "such a big figure, the physical and spiritual leader of the team" as vulnerable, the article says. "As much as I love Phil and I appreciate everything about him, it was difficult to know."

There is no current information about Jackson's prognosis, though his new book "Eleven Rings: The Soul of Success" is sure to shed more light on the topic. The book will be released May 21.