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Dave McMenamin
Multiple Authors
LOS ANGELES — Iconic Lakers coach Pat Riley was celebrated with a statue outside Crypto.com Arena on Sunday. The impressive nearly 8-foot tall, 510-pound bronze likeness depicts the elegantly dressed Riley in a Giorgio Armani suit.
The Hall of Fame coach, currently serving as the Miami Heat’s team president, last coached in 2008 after a 24-year tenure with the Lakers, New York Knicks, and the Heat. He expressed that he would still prefer to wear suits if coaching today.
“I wish it went back to coats and ties,” Riley remarked regarding the NBA coaches’ current dress code of team-issued polos, quarter-zips, and sweaters. “I believe the audience wants to see someone on the sidelines who looks the part of a leader, dresses like a leader, and acts like a leader.”
The NBA implemented the casual wardrobe style during the bubble in 2020 and has maintained it since, with the NBA Coaches Association voting to keep the relaxed dress standards.
The statue captures Riley holding his right fist high, symbolizing the “Showtime” Lakers’ signal for Magic Johnson to pass to Kareem Abdul-Jabbar for his renowned skyhook during the 1980s, while also celebrating his distinctive fashion with an Armani suit and crocodile leather belt.
The guests present at the statue’s unveiling before the Lakers faced off against the Boston Celtics underscored Riley’s status as an icon beyond basketball.
Alongside Johnson, Abdul-Jabbar, Dwyane Wade, and Lakers acting owner Jeanie Buss on the stage was acclaimed actor Michael Douglas, who shared that the slick-backed hairstyle he adopted for his role as Gordon Gekko in “Wall Street” was inspired by Riley.
“I was with Pat, we drove to Miami in his red convertible Mercury with the top down,” Douglas recalled. “I noticed that Pat’s hair remained perfectly still, and that’s when I decided I wanted that look for Gekko.”
Riley coached the Lakers from 1981 to 1990, securing four championships in 1982, 1985, 1987, and 1988—the last of which came after his famous guarantee of a repeat title during the ’87 championship parade.
He becomes the eighth Laker to receive a statue on Star Plaza, joining the ranks of Elgin Baylor, Kobe Bryant, Chick Hearn, Shaquille O’Neal, Jerry West, Johnson, and Abdul-Jabbar.
“I’m not quite sure how I arrived at this moment, but here I am with a statue,” Riley expressed. “I’m immensely grateful. This honor is beyond words. I owe everything to the giants on whose shoulders I stood, who lifted me up. They are the reason I’m here today.”
The statue’s base features an inscription: “A moment will come when you are challenged, and when that time arrives, you must plant your feet. You need to stand firm. You must make a point. About who you are, what you do, and where you come from. When that moment arrives, you do it.”
Riley also discussed current Lakers players LeBron James and JJ Redick during a pregame press conference.
He had recruited James to join the Heat, forming a trio with Wade and Chris Bosh in 2010.
“I believed that assembling the big three—Dwyane, Chris Bosh, and especially LeBron—allowed us to create a dynasty,” Riley reflected. “We made four consecutive trips to the Finals and won two championships; it was an incredible era. I envisioned that team lasting eight to ten years. but, I recognized that NBA business is complicated and players often seek new opportunities. LeBron went to Cleveland and won a title there. I genuinely wish him well but selfishly I would have loved to have him for another six or eight years. It would have been remarkable, but it’s a path we’ll never know.”
Riley, the 13th head coach in Lakers history, also praised Redick, who is now the 32nd.
“I have a lot of respect for JJ,” Riley stated. “He’s passionate and can shoot exceptionally well. He shows remarkable toughness. Sometimes I look back to my younger self, and I see traits in JJ that make him the right fit. The team surrounding him is incredible, with [Luka] Dončić, Austin Reaves, and of course LeBron. I believe Rob [Pelinka] will keep building this team effectively and complement those players. They have great potential, and I think JJ will excel as their coach.”
