The Los Angeles Lakers will unveil a statue of former coach Pat Riley on Feb. The Lakers will fittingly honor Riley against their long-time rival, the Boston Celtics. He led the Lakers through one of the most dynamic eras for any team in NBA history.
22, as the Hall of Famer joins the likes of former team greats Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Magic Johnson and Kobe Bryant in bronze outside their downtown arena. With Johnson and Abdul-Jabbar leading an exciting roster with a groundbreaking fast-break offense, the Lakers went 533-194 (.733) in Riley’s tenure and added 102 playoff victories over nine seasons.
Riley coached the Lakers from from 1981 to 1990 during the team’s “Showtime” era and won four NBA championships (1982, 1985, 1987, 1988).
Riley’s Coaching Legacy and Achievements
Pat Riley, now 80 years old, boasts a remarkable coaching career in the NBA. He led the Los Angeles Lakers to at least 50 wins in each of his nine seasons at the helm, achieving 60 wins in five consecutive seasons. His impressive performance earned him the NBA Coach of the Year award in the 1989-90 season.
Riley’s coaching journey also includes stints with the New York Knicks and the Miami Heat. He secured another championship with the Heat in 2006 and currently serves as the team’s president.
