The Lakers will add Phil Jackson to their collection of statues in April 2027, the team announced Tuesday, giving one of the sport’s most decorated coaches a permanent place outside Crypto.com Arena.
Jackson becomes the ninth figure honored with a statue by the organization, joining Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Elgin Baylor, Kobe Bryant, Chick Hearn, Magic Johnson, Shaquille O'Neal, Pat Riley, and Jerry West.
“Phil Jackson defines championship basketball for a reason,” Lakers governor Jeanie Buss said in a statement. “His masterful approach to coaching brought out the best in some of the greatest athletes to ever play the game.
“After he accepted my dad's invitation to join the Lakers, Phil's unmatched creativity and commitment to excellence restored our championship legacy, bringing five titles and setting a standard of excellence for generations to come. It is a great joy to be able to mark that achievement with the statue he so richly deserves.”
Jackson arrived in Los Angeles in 1999 after winning six titles in nine seasons with the Michael Jordan-led Chicago Bulls. He wasted no time changing the Lakers’ fortunes, opening his run with three consecutive championships.
He stepped away in June 2004, soon after the Lakers fell to the Detroit Pistons in the Finals, but returned after a one-year break and later added two more titles in his second stint.
Across 11 seasons, Jackson produced nine 50-win campaigns. His 610 regular-season victories and 118 playoff wins still stand as franchise records.
He remains the NBA’s all-time leader with 11 championships as a head coach.
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