![\"Pat](\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/HByxyISXoAA-4-c-edited.jpeg\")
Miami Heat president Pat Riley spent nearly two decades in Los Angeles with the Lakers. (Photo courtesy of the Los Angeles Lakers)<\/p>\nMiami Heat president Pat Riley spent nearly two decades in Los Angeles with the Lakers. (Photo courtesy of the Los Angeles Lakers)<\/p>\n
Sunday marked a special afternoon for president and former Los Angeles Lakers head coach Pat Riley, whose statue was unveiled outside of Crypto.com Arena.<\/p>\n
The ceremony was held three hours before the Lakers\u2019 6:30 p.m. EST tip against the Boston Celtics. Here\u2019s how the statue looked:<\/p>\n
Riley, who\u2019s been with the Heat for three decades, nearly spent two with Los Angeles \u2014 both as a player and as a coach. Nicknamed the Godfather, Riley won six titles with the Lakers, including five as a Lakers coach, including three over a four-year span from 1984-1988.<\/p>\n
As the Lakers\u2019 head coach, Riley went 533-194 (.733) with a 102-47 record in the postseason. In nine seasons, Riley won 50-plus games each year, with five 60-win seasons. He also won the NBA\u2019s Coach of the Year award in 1989-90, his last season in Los Angeles, his first of three COY awards.<\/p>\n
Riley\u2019s professional basketball career began in Southern California with the San Diego Rockets. Now, he\u2019ll be forever immortalized as an all-time Lakers great. He now joins Magic Johnson, Abdul-Jabbar, Chuck Hearn, Shaquille O\u2019Neal, Jerry West, Elgin Baylor and Kobe Bryant as those who have earned statues in Star Plaza.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Congratulations, Pat!<\/p>\n
***<\/p>\n
This is a developing news story. Stay tuned for updates!<\/p>\n
To check out our other content, click\u00a0here<\/a>.<\/p>\n Follow Hot Hot Hoops on Twitter\/X\u00a0here<\/a>!<\/p>\n Follow Hot Hot Hoops on Instagram\u00a0here<\/a>!<\/p>\n Check out Hot Hot Hoops on Facebook\u00a0here<\/a>!<\/p>\n Subscribe to our YouTube channel\u00a0here<\/a>!<\/p>\n \t\t\t