Lakers to Unveil Phil Jackson Statue for 5 NBA Titles in 2026-27

Q: As Jackson receives his Lakers monument, will the Chicago Bulls eventually follow suit to honor the mastermind behind their dynasty?

Probably yes at some point, but there is no public indication yet that the Bulls are planning a Phil Jackson statue. The case for one is strong. Jackson won six NBA championships with Chicago, coached the team through both three-peats, and is the central coaching figure in the franchise’s greatest era. He also holds unmatched league-wide credentials with 11 titles as a head coach, the most in NBA history, and his Hall of Fame status only strengthens the argument. The Lakers’ decision adds pressure by highlighting a contrast: Los Angeles is now honoring Jackson with a statue outside Crypto.com Arena on April 9, 2027, after he delivered five titles there. That means both of the franchise dynasties Jackson led will have produced statue-worthy legacies in one city, while Chicago has not yet publicly moved in that direction for him. Still, a Bulls monument is not automatic. Team statues and comparable permanent honors are ownership-driven, carefully curated and often shaped by broader franchise politics, timing and relationships. Jackson’s Bulls exit in 1998 and later history with the organization have long been more complicated than his Lakers standing. So the evidence suggests Jackson is a highly credible candidate if the Bulls expand their public honors. But based on what is publicly known now, any Chicago statue remains speculation rather than an announced plan.

Q: What iconic sideline pose will the sculptor choose to forever immortalize Phil Jackson's legendary coaching career in bronze?

It has not been announced. The Lakers have confirmed Phil Jackson will receive a statue outside Crypto.com Arena on April 9, 2027, and that it will be created by noted sculptor Omri Amrany of Rotblatt Amrany Studio. But neither the team nor the sculptor has publicly revealed what pose the statue will take. If the design follows Jackson’s most recognizable sideline image, the leading candidate would be his calm, arms-folded stance—an expression of the composed, watchful style that defined his coaching persona. Another plausible choice would be a thoughtful, hands-on-hips or meditative courtside posture, reflecting the Zen-influenced approach that became central to his public identity. For now, though, any specific pose is speculation. The only confirmed facts are the commission, the sculptor, the unveiling date, and Jackson’s place as the ninth Lakers figure honored in bronze.

3 articles · Updated · Fox News · Sep 9

Phil Jackson will receive a Star Plaza statue before an April game in the 2026-27 season, the Lakers said Tuesday, making him the ninth figure honored in bronze outside Crypto.com Arena.
Jeanie Buss said Jackson "defines championship basketball," crediting his coaching with restoring the franchise's title standard after he joined the team at her father Jerry Buss' invitation.
Jackson, who turns 81 next week, coached the Lakers across two stints from 1999-2004 and 2005-2011, winning five championships in 11 seasons.
Those titles included a three-peat led by Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O'Neal, followed by two more with Bryant and Pau Gasol; Jackson also won six NBA titles coaching Michael Jordan's Bulls.
The honor expands the Lakers' statue lineup that already includes Bryant, O'Neal, Magic Johnson, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Jerry West, Pat Riley, Elgin Baylor and Chick Hearn.