Lakers Plan Phil Jackson Statue, Magic Johnson Calls for Jerry Buss to Receive Same Honor

The Lakers are preparing to add another statue, but Magic Johnson was the first to object—not because he opposes the Zen Master, but because he believes someone has been overlooked.

The Lakers previously announced that legendary coach Phil Jackson will receive the team's ninth commemorative statue on Star Plaza, with the unveiling ceremony scheduled for April 9, 2027. After the news was announced, Magic Johnson immediately spoke on social media and publicly called for the late owner Dr. Jerry Buss to receive a statue as well.

"He was not just the greatest owner in NBA history"

Magic's comments were not made casually. He shared a column by Kobe Price and clearly expressed his agreement with it.

"He was not only the greatest owner in NBA history, but he also has a strong case for being called the greatest team owner in sports history," Johnson wrote while quoting the column.

He later added on X: "What Kobe Price said in his latest article is exactly right! I 100% agree, Dr. Jerry Buss is the greatest team owner in sports history, and he deserves to have his own statue in front of Crypto.com Arena soon!"

One name is still missing from Star Plaza

This latest wave of Lakers statue unveilings has made Buss' absence stand out even more.

In February, the team honored Pat Riley—the architect of the 1980s Showtime era—with a statue. Previous honorees include Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Magic Johnson, Jerry West, Elgin Baylor, Chick Hearn, Shaquille O'Neal and Kobe Bryant.

Phil Jackson coached the Lakers in two separate stints (2000 to 2002 and 2009 to 2010), leading the team to five NBA championships. With his statue now confirmed, Buss is the only remaining key figure from those historic eras without a physical memorial outside the arena.

The $67.5 million purchase was about more than just a team

In 1979, Buss bought the Lakers from Jack Kent Cooke for $67.5 million. The deal also included the NHL's Los Angeles Kings and the Great Western Forum in Inglewood.

During his 34-year ownership period—from then until his death in 2013—the Lakers achieved sustained success that has been difficult to replicate: 10 NBA championships, 16 Western Conference titles and 32 playoff appearances.

But Buss left behind more than the "purple and gold brand." He introduced courtside entertainment, corporate sponsorship structures and prime-time sports presentation, becoming a pioneer of Southern California sports culture and a driver of professional sports commercialization.

Calls grow again amid front-office changes

The push for a Buss statue has emerged at the same time as major changes in the Lakers' management and decision-making structure.

After the Buss family maintained majority control for decades, Dodgers owner Mark Walter acquired a controlling stake in the Lakers in June 2025 for a record-setting price.

Magic's latest comments have placed a question in the spotlight: when a team is busy honoring coaches and players with statues, when will the person who built it all receive his recognition?