Another Lakers coaching legend will be given high honors by the Lakers.
On Tuesday, the franchise announced that Phil Jackson would be the newest to be cast in proverbial bronze as he would receive a statue outside Crypto.com Arena. The unveiling ceremony will be on Friday, April 9, 2027 ahead of the team’s game against the Wolves.
“Phil Jackson defines championship basketball for a reason,” Jeanie Buss said in a statement released by the team. “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 led the Lakers to seven Finals appearances and five titles across two stints with the purple and gold. He was the coach who finally took the Shaquille O’Neal and Kobe Bryant Lakers over the top, guiding them to their three-peat. He then returned after a brief hiatus away from the team, mended fences with Kobe and eventually helped the purple and gold to two more titles in 2009 and 2010.
Jackson holds the franchise record for wins with 610 and added 118 wins in the postseason as well. In fact, the Lakers made the playoffs every year Jackson was in charge.
He’s generally regarded as one of the greatest coaches in the league’s history and was recognized as such in the NBA’s 75th anniversary celebration, where he was named one of the 15 greatest coaches. Joining him on that list was Pat Riley, who had his own statue unveiled by the Lakers earlier this year.
Jackson is the ninth member of the franchise to receive a statue. Joining him, along with Riley, are Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Elgin Baylor, Kobe Bryant, Chick Hearn, Magic Johnson, Shaquille O’Neal and Jerry West
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