Pat Riley’s Statue Unveiled by Lakers
Wherever Pat Riley went, success seemed to follow, clad in his signature Armani suits.
In New York, he led the team to an NBA Finals appearance and two Eastern Conference Finals in just four seasons. Meanwhile, in Miami, he earned accolades like his third Coach of the Year Award and the NBA Executive of the Year in 2011, along with three championship titles during his long association with the Heat.
Yet, Riley’s storied career will always take him back to Los Angeles.
This was evident again on Sunday, as the Lakers revealed an impressive 8-foot, 510-pound statue of this franchise icon ahead of their game against the rival Celtics.
“If you go back and look at my journey, it’s surreal. I’m not quite sure how I ended up here,” Riley expressed. “But, here I am, and now there are statues and a star in the square.”
He continued, “I’m deeply grateful for this honor and to stand alongside the giants who supported me along the way.”
Riley’s time with the Lakers lasted nine seasons, from 1981 to 1990, during which he guided the team to four championships in the 1980s, with two of those victories against the Celtics.
At 80 years old, Riley reiterated his competitive spirit toward Boston during his speech. “It’s time for us to step it up against Boston—” he declared.
Riley was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2008 and was a part of six championship teams during his association with the Lakers, serving in various roles as a player, assistant coach, and head coach.
The statue features Riley dressed in a tailored Giorgio Armani suit, complete with an alligator belt and his 1985 championship ring, with his right hand raised—a nod to Magic Johnson’s signal for Kareem Abdul-Jabbar to make a move.
Lakers coach JJ Reddick remarked, “Pat really set the standard for modern NBA coaches. I view the NBA as divided into two eras, and I see the 1980-81 transition as key. To me, that’s when the modern NBA began, and Riley epitomized what a modern coach should be. It was nice to pause and appreciate that today.”
While all eyes were on Riley, he took a moment to praise Reddick as well.
“I have a lot of respect for JJ,” Riley said. “I faced off against his teams, and he was a fierce competitor. Very tough on the court.”
Reflecting on the past, Riley mentioned, “I see the right choice in JJ. He’s going to do great things, especially with talented players like (Luka) Doncic, (Austin) Reeves, and LeBron (James). With Rob Pelinka at the helm, I believe they’ll continue to build an excellent team.”
