The Los Angeles Lakers have announced a statue honoring Pat Riley, one of the most successful coaches in franchise history. The statue will be unveiled on February 22, 2026, on Star Plaza outside Crypto.com Arena, placing Riley among the pantheon of Lakers greats celebrated in bronze.
Riley’s connection to the Lakers stretches across decades and multiple roles. He first wore the purple and gold as a guard on the 1972 championship team, then served as a broadcaster and assistant coach before ascending to head coach in 1981. From there, he presided over one of the most celebrated eras in basketball history, leading the “Showtime” Lakers to four NBA championships in 1982, 1985, 1987, and 1988. His teams, anchored by Magic Johnson and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, dazzled with a fast-paced style that captured both victories and imaginations, setting a standard for excellence on and off the court.
During his nine seasons as head coach, Riley amassed a .733 regular-season winning percentage, totaling more than 500 victories along with 102 postseason wins. His discipline, preparation, and signature slicked-back hair and Armani suits became symbols of a franchise that defined success in the 1980s. He was named NBA Coach of the Year in 1990, but his legacy extended far beyond individual accolades—he forged a culture of commitment, showmanship, and relentless pursuit of championships that endures in the Lakers’ identity to this day.
The statue’s unveiling on a game day against the Boston Celtics adds symbolic weight, as no rivalry defined Riley’s Lakers more than their battles with Boston in the NBA Finals. The matchups between the two franchises in the 1980s brought the league to new heights, and Riley stood at the center of the drama, guiding Los Angeles to long-sought victories over their historic rivals.
For the Lakers, erecting Riley’s statue is not only a tribute to his coaching accomplishments but also to his larger role as an architect of the franchise’s legacy. Statues outside arenas are reserved for figures who embody not just winning, but the cultural spirit of a team. Riley’s blend of charisma, tactical brilliance, and relentless drive made him one of the sport’s most enduring figures.
Riley’s influence continued well beyond Los Angeles. He later guided the New York Knicks to the NBA Finals in 1994 and went on to transform the Miami Heat into a championship franchise, winning titles as both coach and executive. Few figures in the NBA have left their mark in as many capacities—player, coach, and front office leader—making his legacy one of the most unique in the game’s history.
For Lakers fans, however, Riley will always be remembered as the steward of Showtime. The image of him patrolling the sidelines, pushing his team to run faster, play harder, and entertain while they won, remains etched into the identity of the franchise. His statue will now join those of Magic Johnson, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Kobe Bryant, Jerry West, Elgin Baylor, Shaquille O’Neal, and Chick Hearn, cementing his place in the story of one of basketball’s most decorated organizations.
When the statue is unveiled, it will stand not only as a likeness in bronze but as a permanent reminder of an era when the Lakers redefined the sport. Pat Riley brought glamour and grit, discipline and flair, and his presence will forever loom over the franchise he helped turn into a global powerhouse. For generations of fans, the statue will serve as both tribute and inspiration, honoring a coach whose legacy remains inseparable from the Lakers’ golden standard of greatness.
