You won’t believe what’s going down with the Lakers right now. They just announced a statue for the legendary coach Phil Jackson, set for April 9, 2027, outside Crypto.com Arena, making him the ninth icon honored in Star Plaza. But here’s the kicker: this whole thing drops right as current Lakers governor Jeanie Buss is locked in a wild legal battle, fighting to keep her stake in the team and stay in charge.
Zen Master’s Legacy: Five Rings and Counting
Five titles, baby! That’s what Phil Jackson brought to the Lakers during his 11 seasons at the helm. He absolutely defined championship basketball for that franchise. Seriously, seven trips to the NBA Finals in 11 years? That’s unheard of dominance. Jackson racked up a ridiculous 610-292 record in the regular season, and then he just dialed it up even more in the playoffs, going 118-63. Don’t forget that iconic three-peat from 2000-02, the last time any NBA team pulled that off. That was pure Zen Master magic! He was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame back in 2007 for a reason, and let’s not forget the six other rings he snagged coaching the Chicago Bulls. The guy just wins. His statue will be standing proudly alongside absolute legends like Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O’Neal, two guys totally synonymous with Jackson’s era, plus Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Magic Johnson, Pat Riley, Jerry West, Elgin Baylor, and even Chick Hearn. That’s some serious company.
A Legal Battle Overshadowing a Legend
But let’s be real, the *real* story here is the absolute circus happening behind the scenes. The Lakers are in the middle of *another* franchise sale, this time to Josh Kushner and Bob Iger. And get this: the Buss family drama is spilling out like crazy, turning into a full-blown legal battle between the siblings. They’re fighting over selling their stake in the team, and some of them want Jeanie Buss OUT as governor. Jeanie’s not backing down; she’s disputing that sale in court. Lakers governor Jeanie Buss herself said, “Phil Jackson defines championship basketball for a reason. His masterful approach to coaching brought out the best in some of the greatest athletes to ever play the 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 the 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.” That’s why it’s so incredibly “notable” that her name is the *only one* attached to the quote in the Lakers’ official release about Jackson’s statue. And just to make things even crazier? Phil Jackson was her *former fiancé*. Talk about tangled webs!
So, come April 9, 2027, just before the Lakers face the Minnesota Timberwolves, Phil Jackson will get his well-deserved spot among the greats. But man, everyone’s gonna be watching to see if Jeanie Buss is still the one pulling the strings when that tarp drops. This isn’t just about a statue anymore, it’s about the future of the Lakers’ leadership.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by CBS Sports.
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