The Los Angeles Lakers unveiled a statue of Pat Riley outside Crypto.com Arena, making him the first head coach in franchise history to receive the honor. The ceremony took place before the Lakers’ game against the Boston Celtics.
The nearly eight-foot bronze statue depicts Riley in an Armani suit with his signature slicked-back hair. Riley coached the Lakers from 1981 to 1990, winning four NBA championships during the franchise’s “Showtime” era. He is the eighth member of the Lakers organization to be honored with a statue, joining players including Magic Johnson and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.
Both Johnson and Abdul-Jabbar attended the ceremony, along with Shaquille O’Neal and Dwyane Wade, who played under Riley later in his career with the Miami Heat.
Riley’s four championships and the Showtime Lakers from 1981 to 1990
Riley’s nine-season tenure as Lakers head coach produced four titles, three Finals MVP awards for his players, and the fast-break offensive identity that defined the franchise through the 1980s. His teams featured Johnson, Abdul-Jabbar, James Worthy, and Byron Scott in a system built around transition scoring and up-tempo play.
The statue’s placement alongside monuments to the players Riley coached reflects the front office’s view that his contribution to the franchise’s most successful era was equal to those of the on-court performers.
Dwyane Wade on Riley’s ability to build winning cultures across multiple franchises
Wade, who won a championship under Riley in Miami, spoke at the ceremony about Riley’s adaptability as a coach and executive. “Pat could build different identities in different cities. Showtime to grit, it’s the same standard, it’s the same leadership. Just a little different style,” Wade said.
Riley’s career extended well beyond his Lakers tenure. He coached the New York Knicks and the Miami Heat, and later served as Miami’s president, building rosters that won two additional championships. His ability to construct winning programs in three different markets over four decades distinguishes his career from coaches who succeeded in a single environment.
Statue unveiled before Lakers-Celtics game, honoring Riley’s role in the rivalry
The ceremony was scheduled to coincide with a Celtics visit, a deliberate nod to the rivalry that defined Riley’s Lakers tenure. Riley’s teams faced Boston in three NBA Finals during the 1980s, splitting the matchups after a 1984 Finals loss that Riley later cited as a turning point in his coaching approach.
Lakers owner Jeanie Buss quoted her late father, Dr. Jerry Buss, during the ceremony: “Pat really was a guardian angel for this franchise, its employees, and most important, its fans across the world.”
The statue now stands permanently outside Crypto.com Arena alongside the franchise’s other honored figures, marking Riley’s place in the Lakers’ history as both the architect of the Showtime era and the only head coach the organization has recognized with a public monument.