Pat Riley honored with statue as he reflects on LeBron and the Heat Big Three
pat riley was unveiled with a statue outside Crypto. com Arena and spoke about both his Lakers past and his time running Miami’s Big Three era from 2010 to 2014. The ceremony and Riley’s remarks tied together his “Showtime” legacy in Los Angeles and the run he helped build in Miami.
Pat Riley honored with statue
The Lakers unveiled a statue of Pat Riley prior to Sunday’s home game against the Boston Celtics, placing his likeness outside Crypto. com Arena between existing statues of Magic Johnson and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. 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. When the statue was unveiled Riley smiled and offered a thumbs up in approval.
Ceremony at Crypto. com Arena
The unveiling was hosted by Lakers governor Jeanie Buss, whose father, Jerry Buss, hired Riley. Buss said, “Forty years ago, Pat was asked by Sports Illustrated what words he associated with coaching. His response was simple: 'dignity, respect, pride. ' Those are the values he lives by and the ones he embedded here. Even though Pat hasn't worked here for more than three decades, those remain Laker principles in large part because of him. That's why it was so important to us to recognize Pat with this statue right here in the heart of downtown L. A. ”
Showtime Lakers alumni present
Riley was among the “Showtime” Lakers royalty present for the unveiling alongside Magic Johnson, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, James Worthy, A. C. Green, Bob McAdoo, Kurt Rambis, Norm Nixon and Byron Scott. Michael Douglas, described as a notable “Showtime”-era Lakers fan, gave a speech about his friendship with Riley. The halftime celebration continued with Johnson emceeing a midcourt ceremony in front of a sold-out crowd.
LeBron James and Heat Big Three
On the same day Riley was honored by the Lakers with a statue, he reflected on his success with another NBA franchise and on LeBron James’ departure from the Miami Heat in 2014. Riley said, in reference to assembling Dwyane Wade, Chris Bosh and especially LeBron James, “I thought getting the Big Three — Dwyane [Wade], Chris Bosh and especially LeBron [James] — that we had finally put together what I thought could be a dynasty. It was. I mean, four trips to the finals in a row, two world championships. It was an incredible run. ”
Riley on LeBron’s exit and legacy
Riley added that he “saw something I thought could last 8-10 years, ” but said he understood “the business of the NBA is the business of the NBA. Players have an opportunity to go somewhere else, and he went to Cleveland, and he won a title up there, so I wish him nothing but the best. But I’m going to be selfish here and say I wish I had him for another 6-8 years. It would’ve been great, but we’ll never know. Will we?”
Big Three context and records
Miami’s Big Three era spanned from 2010 to 2014. The trio joined forces in the summer of 2010 and that move was met with rebuke from many who lamented star players teaming up free agency in pursuit of a title. The free-agency distinction was presented as key: past title-winning cores were often crafted trade or the draft, with examples given including the 2008 Boston Celtics when Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen joined Paul Pierce; Michael Jordan’s Chicago Bulls, which drafted Jordan and had Scottie Pippen, Horace Grant and Toni Kukoc; and Riley’s own “Showtime” Lakers, who drafted Magic Johnson after a prior trade, traded for Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, and selected James Worthy, Byron Scott, Michael Cooper and Kurt Rambis in the draft. Other franchises cited were Isiah Thomas’ Detroit Pistons and Larry Bird’s iteration of the Celtics.
From 2010–14 the Heat’s core produced a. 718 win percentage that trailed only the San Antonio Spurs’. 740 over the same span, and Miami became the third different franchise — alongside Bill Russell’s Celtics and Larry Bird’s Celtics and Riley’s “Showtime” Lakers — to make four consecutive NBA Finals appearances. The article notes, “The 2011 finals will remain a distinct sore spot for the H” — unclear in the provided context.
LeBron’s later milestones
The context noted that LeBron James went back to his hometown Cleveland Cavaliers after four seasons with the Heat, exercising an early termination option. By 2016 LeBron secured his third NBA championship by leading Cleveland to its only NBA title in team history and the city’s first professional title since 1964. The writing also noted that LeBron is playing in his NBA-record 23rd season and that the Heat run remains one of the unique runs in sports history. A photo credit in the coverage was given as Chris Trotman / Getty Images.
Dwyane Wade, who won three NBA championships under Riley's leadership with the Heat, was also in attendance at the statue ceremony. During the halftime ceremony Riley joked about attire: “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. Everybody's got a little too casual — $2, 000 fine for everybody. ”
Riley’s remarks and the statue unveiling tied together his decades-long role as both a Lakers icon and the architect of the Miami Heat’s Big Three run from 2010 to 2014.
