The Next Statue at the Lakers' Arena is for... Phil Jackson

The Lakers announced on Tuesday that they will honor legendary coach Phil Jackson with a statue outside the Crypto.com Arena next season. The official unveiling is scheduled for April 9, 2027, ahead of the California team's matchup against the Timberwolves. Should it have been against the Bulls on February 17th?

Phil Jackson, currently 80 years old, coached the Los Angeles squad for 11 seasons across two stints (1999/00-2003/04 and 2005/06-2010/11).

Under his leadership and with the famed triangle offense, the Lakers secured five NBA championships: a historic three-peat between 1999/00 and 2001/02, led by Shaquille O'Neal and Kobe Bryant, and back-to-back titles in 2008/09 and 2009/10, with Bryant and Spanish center Pau Gasol as central figures. In total, he led the Lakers to seven Finals appearances, winning five.

"Phil Jackson defines championship basketball for a reason," highlighted Lakers President Jeanie Buss – Phil Jackson's former girlfriend when her father, Jerry Buss, still owned the club – in an official statement.

"His masterful approach brought out the best in some of the greatest athletes of all time. His creativity and commitment to excellence restored our legacy of titles and set a standard for generations to come."

The coach will be the ninth figure in Lakers history to have a statue in Star Plaza, joining immortal organization names such as Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Elgin Baylor, Chick Hearn, Magic Johnson, Pat Riley, Jerry West, Shaquille O'Neal, and Kobe Bryant.

Inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2007, Jackson is the most decorated coach in NBA history, boasting 11 championship rings. The first six were also part of two three-peats (1990/91-1992/93 and 1995/96-1997/98) won with Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen's Bulls, and the aforementioned five with the Lakers. He was also named one of the 15 greatest coaches of all time during the NBA's 75th anniversary.

Jackson also has two championship titles as a player with the Knicks, in 1969/70 and 1972/73, although he did not play in the first of those seasons due to spinal surgery.

The artwork was commissioned by the club from the Rotblatt Amrany studio, under the authorship of sculptor Omri Amrany.