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The Los Angeles Lakers immortalised Pat Riley on Sunday, unveiling an eight-foot bronze statue of the Hall of Fame coach outside Crypto.com Arena.
The ceremony, held ahead of a highly anticipated matchup against the Boston Celtics, placed the “Showtime” mastermind in Star Plaza alongside the legends he coached, including Magic Johnson and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.
The statue depicts Riley in his signature slicked-back hair and a sharp Armani suit, his right fist raised in the air—the iconic signal he used to call for Abdul-Jabbar’s “skyhook.”
The event served as a high-profile reunion for the 1980s Lakers, with Riley joined on stage by Johnson, Abdul-Jabbar, and Lakers governor Jeanie Buss.
During his speech, the 80-year-old Riley, who now serves as the president of the Miami Heat, expressed profound humility, stating that he was merely jumping on the shoulders of “giants” who carried him to success.
Riley’s tenure in Los Angeles remains the gold standard for the franchise; he won four titles as head coach and maintains a .733 winning percentage, the highest in team history.
Beyond his tactical brilliance, the ceremony highlighted Riley’s immense cultural impact.
Long-time friend and actor Michael Douglas shared a light-hearted story about how Riley’s immovable hair and impeccable style inspired his own Oscar-winning portrayal of Gordon Gekko in the 1987 film Wall Street.
Douglas joked that after seeing Riley’s hair remain perfectly in place during a ride in a convertible, he knew exactly how he wanted his character to look.
The tribute also acknowledged Riley’s deep roots within the organisation, tracing his journey from a scrappy player on the 1972 championship team to a broadcaster under Chick Hearn and finally to the head coaching role that revolutionised the NBA.
Jeanie Buss described him as the “epitome of an era,” noting that his “flair and swagger” helped define Los Angeles as the city of champions.
Riley concluded the afternoon with a nod to the historic rivalry that defined his career, telling the crowd it was time “to kick some Boston ass.”
