Lakers announce Phil Jackson statue to be unveiled next year, becoming 9th team figure honored

The Los Angeles Lakers will unveil a statue of former head coach Phil Jackson outside their home arena next year. The Lakers announced the plan on Tuesday to honor Jackson's achievements during his two coaching stints with the team, spanning 11 seasons, in which he led the team to five championships and seven NBA Finals appearances.

The statue will be unveiled on April 9 before the Lakers' home game against the Minnesota Timberwolves.

After leading Michael Jordan's Chicago Bulls to six championships, Jackson joined the Lakers in 1999 and quickly began a new period of success for a franchise that already had 17 championships at the time. His first three championship teams in Los Angeles were built around the Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O'Neal partnership, and the Lakers added two more titles in 2009 and 2010 with Kobe and Pau Gasol leading the team. Jackson's Lakers also reached the Finals in 2004 and 2008.

During his Lakers tenure, Jackson recorded 610 victories, setting the franchise record for coaching wins, and guided the team to the playoffs every season until he ended his coaching career in 2011. Lakers owner Jeanie Buss said in a statement: “There is a reason Phil Jackson defined championship basketball. His masterful coaching style brought out the best in some of the greatest players in history. After he accepted my father's invitation to join the Lakers, Phil's unmatched creativity and commitment to excellence restored our championship tradition, brought five championships, and set a standard of excellence for future generations. I am thrilled to commemorate this achievement with the statue he so richly deserves.”

Jackson will become the ninth Lakers-related figure to have a statue at the “Star Plaza” outside the Lakers' arena. Magic Johnson, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Jerry West, Elgin Baylor, Kobe Bryant, Shaquille O'Neal, broadcaster Chick Hearn and former coach Pat Riley have previously received the honor, with Riley's statue unveiled earlier this year.

As a head coach, Jackson won 11 NBA championships, the most in NBA history. The North Dakota native, a former New York Knicks forward, is also a Basketball Hall of Fame member.