Lakers to honor former coach Phil Jackson with statue outside Crypto.com Arena

Former Lakers coach Phil Jackson, who won five of his 11 NBA titles with Los Angeles, will be honored by the franchise with a statue outside Crypto.com Arena.

The unveiling is scheduled for April 9, 2027 when the Lakes host the Minnesota Timberwolves. Jackson, who will turn 81 later this month, won 11 championships as an NBA head coach, the most in history, including five with the Lakers.

"Phil Jackson defines championship basketball for a reason," Lakers Governor Jeanie Buss said in a statement Tuesday. "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 achieved a first wave of NBA greatness with the Chicago Bulls, winning six titles with Michael Jordan in the 1990s. He joined the Lakers ahead of the 1999-2000 season, orchestrating an era of championship success with Shaquille O'Neal and Kobe Bryant in Jackson's precision triangle offense.