Lakers Legend Immortalized: Phil Jackson Statue Unveiling Set to Honor Coaching Icon!
The Los Angeles Lakers announced they will honor legendary coach Phil Jackson with a statue to celebrate his five NBA championships with the team. The unveiling is set for April 9, 2027, recognizing his indelible impact on the franchise's championship legacy. Jackson led the Lakers to a three-peat and two more titles during his two stints as head coach.
The Los Angeles Lakers have announced that they will honor legendary coach Phil Jackson with a statue next season, celebrating his unprecedented achievement of winning five of his 11 NBA coaching titles with the franchise. The team's acting governor, Jeanie Buss, emphasized Jackson's profound impact, stating that his "masterful approach to coaching brought out the best in some of the greatest athletes to ever play the game." She further noted that Jackson's "unmatched creativity and commitment to excellence restored our championship legacy," leading to five titles and establishing a high standard for future generations.
The statue, a tribute Jackson "so richly deserves," is scheduled to be unveiled on April 9, 2027, just before the Lakers' game against the Minnesota Timberwolves. Jackson, currently 80 years old, served as the Lakers' head coach for 11 seasons across two distinct periods: from 1999 to 2004 and again from 2005 to 2011. During his tenure, he achieved remarkable success, securing three championships by effectively implementing his signature triangle offense with superstar duo Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O'Neal as the team's central figures. He later added two more championship rings with Bryant and Pau Gasol leading the team.
Under Jackson's guidance, the Lakers reached the NBA Finals seven times, converting five of those appearances into championships. This included an impressive three-peat from 2000 to 2002, followed by back-to-back victories in 2009 and 2010. Jackson's illustrious career was recognized with his induction into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2007. Furthermore, his coaching prowess was highlighted when the NBA named him one of the 15 greatest coaches in its history as part of the league's 75th-anniversary celebrations.
The upcoming statue will make Phil Jackson the ninth individual to be honored with a permanent tribute at Star Plaza, located outside the Crypto.com Arena. He will join an elite group of Lakers legends and figures, including Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Elgin Baylor, Chick Hearn, Magic Johnson, Pat Riley, Jerry West, Shaquille O'Neal, and Kobe Bryant (who notably has two statues). The Lakers have commissioned Omri Amrany of Rotblatt Amrany Studio to design and create this significant monument, further cementing Jackson's indelible mark on the franchise's storied history.