The Lakers announce a historic tribute to Phil Jackson: he will have his own statue
The franchise announced this Tuesday that it will pay tribute to the coach who won five of its 11 championships in Los Angeles
Los Angeles Lakers will honor Phil Jackson, one of the most successful coaches in NBA history, with a statue that will be unveiled during the next season. The franchise announced this Tuesday that it will pay tribute to the coach who won five of its 11 championships in Los Angeles.
The statue will be unveiled on April 9, 2027, before the game matching the Lakers against the Minnesota Timberwolves. It will be a recognition of Jackson's career leading the franchise and his immense influence during one of the most successful eras in its history.
Phil Jackson to be honored by the Lakers
"There's a reason Phil Jackson is synonymous with championship basketball," said Jeanie Buss, the interim governor of the Lakers. "His masterful approach as a coach brought out the best in some of the greatest athletes to ever play this sport. By accepting my father's invitation to join the Lakers, Phil's unmatched creativity and commitment to excellence restored our legacy of champions, providing five titles and establishing a standard of excellence for generations to come."
"It is a great joy to commemorate that achievement with the statue he so richly deserves."
Jackson, currently 80 years old, coached the Lakers for 11 seasons split between two periods, from 1999 to 2004 and later from 2005 to 2011. During that time, he turned the team into one of the great powerhouses of the NBA.
| Fact | Information |
|---|---|
| Coach | Phil Jackson |
| NBA Titles with the Lakers | 5 |
| Seasons with the Lakers | 11 |
| Periods | 1999-2004 and 2005-2011 |
| Finals Appearances with the Lakers | 7 |
| Finals Won | 5 |
| First Three-Peat | 2000, 2001, and 2002 |
| Last Titles | 2009 and 2010 |
| Statue | April 9, 2027 |
| Opponent in the Game | Minnesota Timberwolves |
| Location | Star Plaza, outside the Crypto.com Arena |
Five championships and two great generations
Phil Jackson won three consecutive championships with the Lakers between 2000 and 2002, employing his signature triangle offense with Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O'Neal as the team's main stars.
After his first stint in Los Angeles, Jackson returned to the bench and once again led the franchise to the top. On this occasion, the Lakers won two consecutive titles, in 2009 and 2010, with Bryant and Pau Gasol as pillars.
In total, Jackson took the Lakers to the NBA Finals seven times and won the championship in five of those appearances. His record in those title series reflects the significant impact he had during his two stints with the franchise.
Jackson also has his place in the Hall of Fame
Jackson's legacy transcends his five championships with the Lakers. The coach was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2007.
Additionally, he was selected among the 15 greatest coaches in NBA history when the league made that choice as part of its 75th-anniversary celebrations.
He will now also have his own spot in Star Plaza. Jackson will become the ninth member of the Lakers to have a statue outside the Crypto.com Arena.
The coach will join Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Elgin Baylor, Chick Hearn, Magic Johnson, Pat Riley, Jerry West, Shaquille O'Neal, and Kobe Bryant, although Bryant has two statues.
The Lakers have commissioned Omri Amrany of the Rotblatt Amrany studio to design and create the statue. The tribute will be inaugurated on April 9, 2027, celebrating the figure of one of the coaches who has most marked the history of the franchise.
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