The Los Angeles Lakers will honor former coach Pat Riley with a statue outdoors the downtown area.
The Lakers introduced Monday that they’ve commissioned a statue to be positioned in Star Plaza to immortalize the coach who received 4 championships with the “Showtime” Lakers of the Nineteen Eighties. Riley additionally received championship rings with the Lakers as a participant and assistant coach.
The 79-year-old Riley has been with the Miami Heat as a coach and government for the previous three many years, however his NBA roots are firmly planted within the Lakers. He performed for Los Angeles from 1970 to 1975 and was the crew’s anchor earlier than changing into Paul Westhead’s assistant in 1979.
He took over as head coach in 1981 and led the Lakers by way of one of the crucial dynamic eras for any crew in NBA historical past. With Magic Johnson and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar main an thrilling crew with a revolutionary fast-break assault, the Lakers went 533-194 (.733) beneath Riley’s tenure and added 102 playoff wins in 9 largely seasons distinctive.
“Pat is a Lakers icon,” Lakers proprietor Jeanie Buss mentioned in a press release. “His professionalism, dedication to his craft and sport preparation paved the way in which for the coaches we see right this moment all through the league. My father acknowledged Pat’s obsession and skill to take proficient gamers and unite them in a championship crew. Pat and the Lakers created within the Nineteen Eighties nonetheless characterize the mannequin of the group right this moment: a enjoyable and successful crew.”
Riley will grow to be the eighth Lakers luminary to be honored with a statue in Star Plaza, which has grow to be a well-liked vacationer attraction. The others are Abdul-Jabbar, Johnson, Elgin Baylor, Jerry West, Kobe Bryant, Shaquille O’Neal and broadcaster Chick Hearn.
Riley went on to teach the New York Knicks for 4 seasons earlier than changing into crew president and coach of the Heat in 1995. He has since remained president of Miami and received one other NBA title in 2006 throughout his two stints as head coach of the Heat.
Associated Press reporting.
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