April 13, 2011; Sacramento, CA, USA; Los Angeles Lakers head coach Phil Jackson yells at a referee against the Sacramento Kings in the fourth quarter at the Power Balance Pavilion. The Lakers defeated the Kings 116-108 in overtime. Mandatory Credit: Cary Edmondson-USA TODAY Sports
Mandatory Credit: Cary Edmondson-USA TODAY Sports
The Los Angeles Lakers have a rich history of success that goes back many decades in NBA history. Long before the days of Luka Doncic, the Purple and Gold have been synonymous with winning, standing as one of two teams with over 10 titles.
While countless stars have come and gone over the years, few have left an impact as great as Phil Jackson did. That’s why, after winning five of his 11 coaching championships in Los Angeles, the Lakers have decided to immortalize his legacy with a statue outside the iconic Crypto.com Arena. It will be unveiled in April, officially joining Phil with other legends commemorated on Star Plaza, including 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,” said Lakers governor Jeanie Buss in a statement. “His masterful approach to coaching brought out the best in some of the greatest athletes to ever play this 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.”
It’s unclear who made the final call on this move, but Lakers governor Jeanie Buss clearly played a role in the decision. While she is no longer the controlling owner, she’s still the acting governor as she fights to keep control of her family’s shares. She was more than around during Phil Jackson’s tenure; she was heavily involved with the man as his lover/partner for 17 years. They even got engaged before their relationship broke apart.
Despite Jeanie’s bias, however, there is no doubt that Jackson deserves the honor. He was initially hired in 1999 after his historic run with Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippen, and the Bulls (where he won his first six championships). His ability to bring out the best in his stars helped to maximize the Kobe Bryant–Shaquille O’Neal duo, leading to the NBA’s last successful three-peat in 2000, 2001, and 2002. He would later help coach Kobe to two more championships in 2009 and 2010.
More than for his leadership and system of accountability, Jackson is known for his legendary “triangle offense,” which helped revolutionize the Lakers with a system based on floor spacing and balance. It empowered the players and helped the team act with purpose, establishing clear roles while still giving everyone a chance to shine.
In the end, Jackson’s tenure with the Lakers did not end on the best of terms, and things only got worse when he left to run the Knicks in 2014. Today, while his involvement with the game is limited, Jackson’s legacy will never fade away; at least, not in Los Angeles. As one of the key orchestrators behind a golden era of the Lakers, Phil Jackson will always be celebrated for what he brought to the team, and now he’ll get the recognition he deserves.