Lakers to Unveil Phil Jackson Statue in April 2027

The Los Angeles Lakers are set to honor legendary coach Phil Jackson with a statue outside Crypto.com Arena, the team announced Tuesday. The monument, celebrating Jackson's significant impact on the franchise, is scheduled to be unveiled on April 9, 2027, before the Lakers' home game against the Minnesota Timberwolves. Jackson, who will turn 81 later this month, is widely regarded as one of the greatest coaches in NBA history. Jackson coached the Lakers for 11 seasons across two stints, from 1999 to 2011, excluding the 2004-05 season. During this period, he led the team to five NBA championships and seven Western Conference titles, establishing a dominant era for the franchise. He remains the Lakers' all-time leader in coaching wins. Lakers Governor Jeanie Buss stated that Jackson's "masterful approach to coaching brought out the best in some of the greatest athletes to ever play the game" and that his "unmatched creativity and commitment to excellence restored our championship legacy." Before his success in Los Angeles, Jackson coached the Chicago Bulls for nine seasons from 1989 to 1998, where he secured six NBA championships with Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen.