On February 22, the Los Angeles Lakers will dedicate a statue to one-time head coach Pat Riley. This special event is happening during one of the team’s games against the Boston Celtics. This will be an exciting and important time for Riley. He becomes the eighth person to be so honored in the Lakers’ Star Plaza, alongside icons such as Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Magic Johnson and Kobe Bryant.
Riley’s roots with the Lakers run deep, dating back to playing for the team from 1970-1975. After his playing career, he transitioned directly into broadcasting for the team. In 1979, he was named assistant coach to Paul Westhead. His influence can be noticed from the outset. He was a member of the legendary 1971-72 Lakers squad, which racked up an NBA-record 33 straight wins and won that season’s NBA championship.
Riley’s legacy lives on his influence is still felt today with the Lakers. He later enjoyed success as a head coach with both the New York Knicks and the Miami Heat, leading the Heat to an NBA championship in 2006. At 80, and the current team president of the Miami Heat, Riley is proving that age means nothing. He still exerts great power in the global sports arena.
During his time as head coach of the Lakers from 1981 to 1990, Riley’s teams were almost always at the top of the league. They won no less than 50 games in each one of his nine seasons. Sporting an astounding overall record of 533 wins and 194 defeats, they had a winning percentage of .733. His teams won no fewer than 60 games per year for the same five-year run. They won an incredible 102 playoff games under his coaching watch.
The Miami Heat paid tribute to Riley’s contributions last season. As if that weren’t enough, the team even went and named the court in their downtown arena after him. The Lakers’ next statue unveiling — as soon as this fall — will honor his undeniable impact on basketball. At the same time, it’s a testament to his permanent impact on both franchises.
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