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Phil Jackson, who won five of his record 11 NBA coaching titles with the Los Angeles Lakers, will be honored with a statue, the team confirmed Tuesday.
"Phil Jackson defines championship basketball for a reason," Lakers acting governor Jeanie Buss said in a statement.
When the statue honoring Jackson is unveiled before an April game during the 2026-27 season, he will become the ninth member of the Lakers immortalized in bronze at Star Plaza outside the Lakers’ downtown Los Angeles home.
Los Angeles Lakers coach Phil Jackson celebrates after his team defeated the Boston Celtics 83-79 in Game 7 of the 2010 NBA Finals on June 17, 2010, at Staples Center in Los Angeles, Calif. (Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images)
"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."
The statement called Jackson deserving of the honor for his storied career. "It is a great joy to be able to mark that achievement with the statue he so richly deserves."
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Jackson, who is set to celebrate his 81st birthday next week, coached the Lakers for 11 seasons over two separate stints. His first tenure began in 1999 and lasted through 2004, while his second ran from 2005 to 2011.
During his two stints as head coach, Jackson guided the Lakers to five NBA championships. Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Famers Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O’Neal powered the three-peat title run. Bryant remained the centerpiece for the final two championships, with Pau Gasol joining him as the other cornerstone.
Los Angeles Lakers coach Phil Jackson directs his team before Game 7 against the Boston Celtics in the 2010 NBA Finals on June 17, 2010, at Staples Center in Los Angeles, Calif. (Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images)
Jackson was enshrined in the Basketball Hall of Fame as part of the 2007 class. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest coaches in NBA history, having guided Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls to six NBA championships across two separate three-peats.
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Other former Lakers players, coaches and contributors with permanent statues outside Crypto.com Arena include Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Elgin Baylor, Chick Hearn, Magic Johnson, Pat Riley, Jerry West, Shaquille O’Neal and Kobe Bryant.
Former Lakers coach Phil Jackson speaks during the unveiling of a statue honoring the late Kobe Bryant at Crypto.com Arena on Feb. 8, 2024, in Los Angeles, Calif. The statue is the first of three planned in Bryant’s honor at the arena. (David Crane/MediaNews Group/Los Angeles Daily News via Getty Images)
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Bryant has two statues at Star Plaza, one of which honors his late daughter, Gianna "Gigi" Maria-Onor’e Bryant.
Chantz Martin is a sports writer for Fox News Digital.
