Los Angeles Lakers announced on monday that Pat Riley will be honored with a statue in “Star Plaza” outside Crypto.com Arena. Riley, who won six championships with Los Angeles, one as a player (1972), one as an assistant coach (1980) and four as a head coach (1982, 1985, 1987, 1988), will be the eighth Lakers luminary to win a statue.
“Pat is a Lakers icon,” Lakers owner Jeanie Buss said in a statement. “His professionalism, commitment to his craft and game preparation paved the way for the coaching we see in the league today. My dad recognized Pat’s obsession and ability to take talented players and merge them into a championship team. The style of basketball of Pat and the Lakers created in the 80s remain the model of the current organization: an entertaining and winning team.
The statue has been commissioned, but not completed. It is “poised for completion in 2026,” according to the team, and its unveiling will be announced “later.”
Riley, 79, received the news from Buss via video call on Monday, according to the Lakers. Also on the call were Riley’s wife, Chris; Jerry West’s widow, Karen; Kareem Abdul-Jabbar; Magic Johnson; James Worthy; Michael Cooper; AC green; Vlade Divac and Kurt Rambis.
Outside of the arena, Riley will become the first Lakers coach to have a statue. His image will be alongside those of Abdul-Jabbar, Johnson, West, Elgin Baylor, Shaquille O’Neal, Kobe Bryant and Chick Hearn.
Last month, the Miami Heat, for whom Riley has been team president since 1995, They named their home court after him. “This is beyond my imagination as a reward for one man’s life’s work,” Riley said then. Although he is in his 30th season with the Heat, many of the most memorable moments of his career came with the Lakers, particularly when he was head coach during the “Showtime” era. It’s only fair that they celebrate it too.
