For decades, Pat Riley has been the architect of the Miami Het.<\/p>\n
But he’s a Los Angeles Lakers legend whose likeness was set in perpetuity Sunday with a statue outside of Crypto.com Arena.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The Lakers unveiled the statue prior to Sunday’s home game against the rival Boston Celtics. It fittingly stands between statues of Magic Johnson and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, with whom Riley won four NBA championships as the head coach of the “Showtime” Lakers.<\/p>\n
With a host of Lakers icons watching, the curtain was lifted, and Riley’s statue emerged from a flurry of purple and gold confetti. The statue is positioned with Riley holding up his right hand in a fist, his trademark signal for Johnson to deliver a pass to Abdul-Jabbar for a sky hook.<\/p>\n
A Lakers icon forever enshrined. Congrats, Coach \ud83d\udc9b pic.twitter.com\/pn8bGJtAs1<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Los Angeles Lakers (@Lakers) February 22, 2026<\/a><\/div>\n An inscription on the base of the statue features a quote that Riley attributed to his father, Leon Riley:<\/p>\n \u201cThere will come a time when you are challenged, and when that time comes, you must plant your feet. You must stand firm. You must make a point. About who you are, what you do, and where you come from. When that time comes, you do it.\u201d<\/p>\n Riley was among the “Showtime” Lakers royalty present for the unveiling alongside Johnson, Abdul-Jabbar, James Worthy, A.C. Green, Bob McAdoo, Kurt Rambis, Norm Nixon and Byron Scott.<\/p>\n Dwyane Wade, who won three NBA championships under Riley’s leadership with the Heat, was also in attendance. As was notable “Showtime”-era Lakers fan Michael Douglas, who gave a speech about his friendship with Riley<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n Lakers governor Jeanie Buss, whose father, Jerry Buss, hired Riley, hosted the ceremony.<\/p>\n \u201cEven though Pat hasn’t worked here for more than three decades, those remain Laker principles in large part because of him,” Buss said.<\/a>” That’s why it was so important to us to recognize Pat with this statue right here in the heart of downtown L.A.\u201d<\/p>\n When the statue was unveiled, Riley smiled and offered a thumbs up in approval.<\/p>\n When Pat Riley raised his fist, that meant give the ball to Kareem.<\/p>\n The celebration of Riley continued at halftime of Sunday’s game with Johnson emceeing a midcourt ceremony in front of a sold-out crowd.\u00a0<\/p>\n “I was born to be a Laker in 1970 at the Forum with these guys right here,” Riley said when Johnson handed him the mic, while pointing to the aforementioned former Lakers in the building who were lined up behind him at halfcourt.\u00a0<\/p>\n The man known for as much for his fashion sense as his basketball acumen, then had jokes.<\/p>\n “And of all of them, there’s only one who has shown me true respect today, and that’s James Worthy, who has a tie on,” Riley continued. “Everybody’s got a little too casual \u2014 $2,000 fine for everybody.”<\/p>\n Pat Riley says hes giving everybody a $2,000 fine for not wearing a suit and tie (James Worthy was the only one safe) \ud83d\udc80 pic.twitter.com\/VW3FQWICJp<\/a><\/p>\nLakers legends among icons to honor Riley<\/h2>\n