Phil Jackson to get statue outside Crypto.com Arena: Lakers honor 'Zen Master'

The Los Angeles Lakers have confirmed that a statue of legendary head coach Phil Jackson will be unveiled before the team's game against the Minnesota Timberwolves on April 9, 2027, at Crypto.com Arena. The ceremony will honor a coach who shaped the franchise's golden era and delivered five NBA championships to Los Angeles. Before joining the Lakers, Jackson won six NBA titles with the Chicago Bulls alongside Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen. He later coached the Lakers for 11 seasons across two stints: 2026-2026 and 2026-2026. During that period, the Lakers reached the NBA Finals seven times and won five championships, including a three-peat from 2026 to 2026. Jackson posted a regular-season record of 610 wins and 292 losses with Los Angeles, and a playoff record of 118 wins and 63 losses. The 'Zen Master' will become the ninth person honored with a statue outside Crypto.com Arena. He joins Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Elgin Baylor, Kobe Bryant, Chick Hearn, Magic Johnson, Shaquille O'Neal, Pat Riley and Jerry West. Jackson is only the second coach on that list, after Pat Riley, underlining his special place in Lakers lore. The statue is expected to be a major cultural moment for the NBA, connecting the franchise's past with its present identity. For Vietnamese basketball fans, the ceremony on April 9, 2027 offers a chance to celebrate one of basketball's greatest coaching minds and the enduring legacy of the purple and gold.