Phil Jackson to Be Honored by Lakers with Statue, Reveal Date Announced for 2026-27 NBA Season

One of the greatest coaches in NBA history will soon be honored with a statue outside of the stadium where he spent some of his best days.

Phil Jackson is set to be honored with a statue outside of Crypto.com Arena this season, and the statue will be unveiled on April 9 ahead of the Los Angeles Lakers' matchup against the Minnesota Timberwolves, the team announced on Tuesday.

Jackson had a 14-year playing career in the NBA before stepping into the coaching world in the late 1970s. He took over as the Chicago Bulls' head coach in 1989 and went on to win six titles with Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen, establishing one of the greatest dynasties in sports history.

Jackson's coaching career appeared to be over after his "Last Dance" season with the Bulls in 1998, but he returned to the NBA a year later as the head coach of the Lakers.

Leading the iconic duo of Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O'Neal, Jackson won three consecutive championships in 2000, 2001 and 2002. He left the Lakers after the 2003-04 season, which ended with a Finals loss to the Detroit Pistons.

Just one season later, Jackson returned to Los Angeles as the head coach of the Lakers. His second tenure wasn't quite as dominant as his first, but he still led the team to titles in 2009 and 2010, with Bryant leading the way. He retired from coaching following the 2010-11 season.

"Phil Jackson defines championship basketball for a reason," Lakers governor Jeanie Buss said in a statement. "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 will become the ninth member of the Lakers with a statue outside of the arena, joining Bryant, O'Neal, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Elgin Baylor, Chick Hearn, Magic Johnson, Pat Riley and Jerry West.