The Los Angeles Lakers will unveil a statue for ex-head coach Phil Jackson in April 2027, the team announced Tuesday.
Jackson is the ninth member of the organization to be recognized with a statue outside of Crypto.com Arena, joining Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Elgin Baylor, Kobe Bryant, Chick Hearn, Magic Johnson, Shaquille O'Neal, Pat Riley, and Jerry West.
"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 joined the Lakers in 1999 after winning six titles in nine seasons with the Michael Jordan-led Chicago Bulls. The Hall of Famer began his Los Angeles tenure with three straight championships.
Jackson stepped down in June 2004, shortly after the Lakers' Finals defeat to the Detroit Pistons. However, he returned following a one-year hiatus and later guided the club to two more championships during his second stint.
Jackson registered nine 50-win campaigns in 11 seasons. His 610 regular-season victories and 118 playoff wins remain franchise records.
He's the NBA's all-time leader with 11 championships as head coach.
