The Los Angeles Lakers have confirmed that former head coach Phil Jackson will be honoured with a statue at the team's Star Plaza, marking his contribution to the franchise's championship history. Jackson led the Lakers to five NBA titles across two coaching spells, and the tribute recognises him as one of basketball's most successful coaches, with acting governor Jeanie Buss praising his ability to bring out the best in star players such as Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O'Neal.

The statue will be unveiled before an April fixture during the 2026-27 season, shortly after Jackson turns 81, making him the ninth Lakers figure immortalised in bronze outside the Crypto.com Arena. He coached the team from 1999 to 2004 and again from 2005 to 2011, winning three consecutive titles with O'Neal and Bryant before adding two more with Bryant and Pau Gasol. Jackson, a 2007 Hall of Fame inductee, also won six championships coaching Michael Jordan's Chicago Bulls, and will join existing Lakers honourees including Magic Johnson, Jerry West and Bryant, who already has two statues at the site.