The NBA has unveiled its full 2025-26 regular season schedule, and alongside this announcement, the Los Angeles Lakers have revealed the date for a special tribute to their former head coach Pat Riley. His statue will be publicly displayed at Star Plaza outside the Crypto.com Arena on Sunday, February 22nd, ahead of the Lakers’ game versus the Boston Celtics.
Initially, the Lakers planned to unveil the Riley statue sometime in 2026 but had not set a specific date until now. Riley is set to be the eighth Lakers figure honored with a statue, joining legends such as Jerry West, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Magic Johnson, Kobe Bryant, Shaquille O’Neal, Chick Hearn, and Elgin Baylor.
During his coaching tenure from 1981 to 1990, Riley led the Lakers to four NBA championships. His teams consistently achieved over 50 wins each season, exceeding 60 wins in five of those years. He earned NBA Coach of the Year honors in the 1989-90 season, when the Lakers posted a 63-19 record.
Lakers owner Jeanie Buss praised Riley as a franchise icon, highlighting his professionalism, dedication, and influence on modern coaching across the league. She credited him for uniting talented players into championship-caliber teams and pioneering the entertaining, winning style of basketball that defined the Lakers in the 1980s and continues to shape the organization today.
Riley is widely associated with the Lakers’ most successful “Showtime” era, a storied period that was recently dramatized in the HBO series “Victory Time,” inspired by Jeff Perlman’s book “Showtime.” This tribute’s timing is notable, as it will precede the Lakers’ home game against their historic rival, the Boston Celtics—a matchup that defined the fierce 1980s rivalry.
With 533 regular-season wins, Riley ranks second in Lakers coaching victories behind Phil Jackson’s 610. Overall, he tallied 635 wins with the team, including playoff success. His Lakers legacy extends beyond coaching; Riley also played for the team from 1970 to 1975, contributing as a shooting guard to the 1971-72 Lakers squad that set an NBA record with 33 consecutive wins and won the championship.
Additionally, Riley served as an assistant coach under Paul Westhead for three seasons, during which the Lakers secured two NBA titles. Today, Riley is the Miami Heat’s team president and a minority owner. After departing the Lakers, he coached the New York Knicks for four years and the Miami Heat for 11, winning another NBA championship in 2006. With 1,210 NBA head-coaching victories, Riley is ranked fifth in league history.
Fan Take: Honoring Pat Riley with a statue is more than a nod to Lakers history—it’s a celebration of a transformative figure whose coaching and leadership helped shape the modern NBA. This recognition not only cements his legacy but also inspires future generations by reminding fans and players alike of the enduring impact one visionary coach can have on the sport.
