Lakers to Honor Phil Jackson With Statue, Magic Johnson Calls for Jerry Buss Statue

According to reports, the Lakers recently announced that legendary head coach Phil Jackson will receive the team's ninth commemorative statue at Star Plaza, with the official unveiling ceremony scheduled for April 9, 2027. After the news emerged, Hall of Famer Magic Johnson immediately called on social media for a statue to be built for the late Dr. Jerry Buss.

Johnson's call

Johnson's call directly responded to the Lakers' announcement about honoring Phil Jackson with a statue. He cited a column by California Post writer Kobe Price and shared his position on social platform X.

Johnson quoted Price's column as saying: "He is not only one of the greatest owners in NBA history, he also has a strong case to be called the greatest team owner in sports history."

Johnson later added on X: "From Kobe Price's latest article at @nypost — he 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 as soon as possible!"

Johnson's own statue has already stood at Star Plaza outside Crypto.com Arena. The Lakers are set to add another statue for Jackson, but Johnson believes a statue for Buss is a long-overdue honor.

Star Plaza's list

The calls for a statue honoring Buss come at a significant historical moment for the franchise. Previously, the Lakers have unveiled multiple statues for key figures from different championship eras.

In February, the team unveiled a statue for Pat Riley, the architect of the 1980s "Showtime" era. Before him, those already honored at Star Plaza included:

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar

Magic Johnson

Jerry West

Elgin Baylor

Chick Hearn

Shaquille O'Neal

Kobe Bryant

Along with Phil Jackson, who is set to receive a statue — he coached the Lakers in two separate periods (2000 to 2002 and 2009 to 2010) and led the team to five NBA championships — Dr. Buss is the only central figure from those historic eras still waiting for a physical monument outside the arena.

Buss' record

According to reports, Dr. Buss purchased the Lakers from Jack Kent Cooke in 1979 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 tenure running the team — a period that ended with his death in 2013 — the franchise achieved remarkable sustained success:

10 NBA championships

16 Western Conference championships

32 playoff appearances

But Buss did more than build the "Purple and Gold" brand. Reports noted that he was a pioneer in Southern California sports culture, helping shape the business model of professional sports through courtside entertainment, corporate sponsorship structures and prime-time sports presentation.

Timing: The call comes amid leadership changes

The push to create a statue for Dr. Buss comes as the Lakers undergo significant leadership and administrative changes.

According to reports, after the Buss family maintained majority control for decades, Dodgers owner Mark Walter acquired a controlling stake in June 2025 for a record 1 (the original text is cut off here) price.

Magic's public statement has raised a question: As the Star Plaza list continues to grow, when will the person who helped put it all together finally have his own place there?