The Los Angeles Lakers have confirmed they will honor Phil Jackson with a statue. Jackson, a key figure in NBA history, secured five of his 11 NBA coaching titles with the Lakers.
“Phil Jackson defines championship basketball for a reason,” said Jeanie Buss, Lakers acting governor, in a statement. “His masterful approach to coaching brought out the best in some of the greatest athletes in the game.”
The statue will be revealed before a game in April during the 2026-27 season, making Jackson the ninth person commemorated in bronze at Star Plaza. This site is located outside the Lakers’ home in downtown Los Angeles.
Buss also highlighted that Jackson’s commitment to excellence helped restore the Lakers’ championship legacy, bringing home five titles.
Jackson is set to celebrate his 81st birthday next week. His coaching career with the Lakers spanned 11 seasons, split between 1999-2004 and 2005-2011. During these periods, Jackson led the team to five NBA championships. The initial three-peat featured the talents of Hall of Famers Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O’Neal. Bryant then became a crucial component of the later championship wins, joined by Pau Gasol.
Phil Jackson was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 2007 and is renowned for leading Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls to six NBA championships. This puts him among NBA’s greatest coaches.
Beyond Jackson, other Lakers figures with statues at Crypto.com Arena include Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Elgin Baylor, Chick Hearn, Magic Johnson, Pat Riley, Jerry West, Shaquille O’Neal, and Kobe Bryant. Bryant has two statues, one honoring his daughter Gianna.
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