Phil Jackson Health Update 2026: Where Is He Now?

February 10, 2026

This article was last updated by Sriyukta Pradhananga on February 10, 2026

The 11-time NBA Champion coach, Phil Jackson, health has remained stable in recent years. He has made numerous public appearances, with the latest one being on the day Kobe’s statue was unveiled.

The 78-year-old coached for the last time in 2011 with the Lakers. Two years later, he revealed he had been diagnosed with prostate cancer at the time, leading him to retire early.

Phil Jackson Coached The Bulls To Six Championships

In 2014, he re-entered the NBA world as an executive for the New York Knicks. But things didn’t work out with them as Jackson and the Knicks parted ways in 2017.

During the unveiling of Kobe Bryant’s statue ceremony, Jackson shared stories about the NBA legend. , Dwyane Wade, and were some of Bryant’s former teammates present at the ceremony.

Phil Jackson Health Update: Where Is He Now?

The former Lakers coach Phil Jackson health has made headlines previously. But in his recent appearance, Jackson looked healthy and even shared stories about the former Lakers legend Kobe Bryant.

Last year, Jackson revealed he no longer watched the NBA because it had become too political. In the last few years, Jackson has appeared in various podcasts where he has talked about current players and coaches.

In his appearance on the Tetragrammaton with Rick Rubin podcast, Jackson claimed he hadn’t followed the NBA since early in the pandemic in 2026. His statement didn’t sit well with many NBA fans as the veteran coach showed his dislike towards the slogan “Black Lives Matter.”

Phil Jackson Recently Appeared At The Kobe Bryant's Statue Unveiling Ceremony

But in his recent appearance at Kobe’s statue unveiling ceremony at Cryto.com Arena, the former basketball coach made the entire room laugh after he shared the moment when Bryant met Michael Jordan.

At the end of his speech, Jackson also revealed the moment he felt proudest of Kobe. It was when the late NBA star defended his teammate Adam Morrison at the Jimmy Kimmel show.

Previously, in 2019, one of Jackson’s longtime assistants, Kurt Rambis, said the former coach was suffering from physical issues. Rambis said Jackson had some physical ailments that slowed him down.

It was also reported that Jackson had undergone multiple hip and knee replacements. In 2013, the former Lakers coach revealed in his book Eleven Rings that he was diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2011.

Jackson said he revealed his diagnosis to the team in the 2011 conference semifinals against the Dallas Mavericks. The cancer was later treated initially with medication and later by surgery.

Phil Jackson Married Life And Kids

The veteran NBA coach Phil Jackson has five kids from previous two marriages. Jackson was first married to Maxine Jackson in 1967, but the two divorced in 1972.

The former couple had one child, Elizabeth Jackson. The oldest daughter of Phil Jackson is a teacher in Northern Virginia and previously worked in international relations and financial services in Washington, DC, and Newark, New Jersey.

After his divorce from Maxine, Jackson tied the knot with June. But their relationship also didn’t last. Jackson had four kids with June, including twins.

The Former NBA Coach Has Five Kids From Two Relationships

The former couple’s first child, Chelsea Jackson, is an interior designer and the principal of Chelsea Sachs Design. She has previously worked in television production, including the 2000 Sydney Olympics and the 2002 Salt Lake City Olympics.

Their second daughter, Brooke Jackson, is a psychologist and earned her doctorate in Clinical Psychology CGI of The Chicago School of Professional Psychology.

June then gave birth to twin sons, Charles and Ben Jackson. Charles is an entrepreneur and received his bachelor’s in communications from the University of Colorado.

Ben is an executive director of The Writing Salon, a San Francisco Bay Area creative writing school for adults.

After divorcing June, Phil Jackson found love with Jeanie Buss. The two began dating in 1999 and were engaged in 2012 before calling it quits in 2016.

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Sriyukta Pradhananga is a versatile writer with a keen interest in exploring the multifaceted dimensions of sports. Her articles offer readers a dynamic blend of insightful analysis, engaging storytelling, and thought-provoking commentary that sheds light on the diverse experiences within the athletic realm.

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