Phil Jackson, who secured five of his 11 NBA coaching titles with the Los Angeles Lakers, will be commemorated with a statue, the team announced on Tuesday. Jeanie Buss, the Lakers’ acting governor, stated, “Phil Jackson defines championship basketball for a reason.”
The statue will be unveiled prior to an April game in the 2026-27 season, making Jackson the ninth individual honored with a bronze statue at Star Plaza, located outside the Lakers’ home in downtown Los Angeles.
Jackson was pivotal in the Lakers’ championship success, as illustrated by their 2010 NBA Finals victory over the Boston Celtics. The Lakers triumphed with a score of 83-79 in Game 7, held at the Staples Center in Los Angeles.
(Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images)
“His masterful approach to coaching brought out the best in some of the greatest athletes to ever play the game,” Buss commented. She praised Jackson’s influence after joining the Lakers, describing his creativity and pursuit of excellence that led the team to five titles, thereby restoring their championship legacy.
“It is a great joy to be able to mark that achievement with the statue he so richly deserves,” she added.
Jackson celebrates his 81st birthday soon. He coached the Lakers for 11 seasons, split into two periods from 1999 to 2004 and from 2005 to 2011. Under his leadership, the Lakers won five NBA championships, powered by Hall of Famers Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O’Neal for the initial three-peat. Bryant and Pau Gasol took the helm for the latter two championships.
Jackson was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 2007 and is regarded as one of the greatest coaches in NBA history. Apart from the Lakers, he led Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls to six NBA championships during two three-peats.
Alongside Jackson, other figures from the Lakers have been immortalized with statues at Crypto.com Arena. These include Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Elgin Baylor, Chick Hearn, Magic Johnson, Pat Riley, Jerry West, Shaquille O’Neal, and Kobe Bryant.
Bryant’s legacy features two statues at Star Plaza, one also honoring his late daughter, Gianna “Gigi” Maria-Onor’e Bryant.
(David Crane/MediaNews Group/Los Angeles Daily News via Getty Images)
Aaron Judge Returns to Yankees: A Disappointing Debut Against Rockies 
SEC vs LSU: A Legal Showdown Over College Athlete Rules 
LIV Golf Enters Bankruptcy as Saudi Support Withdrawn 
Weather Concerns and Climate Change Discussions in College Football 
Feud Between Taiwanese Tennis Stars Hsieh and Chan Unfolds at US Open 
Ben Shelton vs. Carlos Alcaraz: U.S. Open 2026 Quarterfinal Showdown