Lakers Unveil Pat Riley Statue as LeBron, Riley Reflect on What Might Have Been in Miami
The Los Angeles Lakers unveiled a bronze statue honoring Pat Riley on Sunday in a ceremony that drew former teammates, Hollywood figures and franchise leaders. The event took place before the Lakers hosted the Boston Celtics, and in the aftermath pat riley and LeBron James spent time reflecting on their four-year run in Miami and what additional success might have followed.
Pat Riley Statue Revealed on L. A. Live Plaza
Curtains surrounding the new monument dropped on Sunday afternoon to reveal a nearly 8-foot tall, 510-pound bronze depiction of Pat Riley, placed on the outdoor plaza outside Crypto. com Arena. The statue, dressed in Armani with a crocodile leather belt and a representation of Riley’s 1985 championship ring, joins other monuments to Kobe Bryant, Elgin Baylor, Jerry West, Shaquille O’Neal, Chick Hearn, Magic Johnson and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.
Riley, 80, arrived at the ceremony riding in the passenger seat of a white golf cart wearing a navy and black-striped Giorgio Armani jacket and rolled past the memorial to Kobe and Gianna Bryant as fans gathered. One fan called out, “We love you, Pat, ” to which Riley smiled and waved before taking the stage. He wrapped an arm around his wife, Chris Riley, when the statue was revealed.
Magic Johnson, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Dwyane Wade on Stage
The curtains were lowered with Magic Johnson, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Dwyane Wade, actor Michael Douglas and Jeanie Buss on stage. Shaquille O’Neal sent prepared remarks by video. Michael Douglas said he adopted Riley’s signature 1980s look and slicked-back hair for his portrayal of Gordon Gekko in the film Wall Street. Abdul-Jabbar stood from his chair — his 7-2 frame towering over the crowd — to share stories about both squabbles and the affection he has for his former teammate-turned-coach.
Johnson quipped about Riley’s intensity, saying, “Oh, man, he got on your nerves… Oh, boy. He got on you. But it was all for the good. Because it always turned out right, ” a line that drew laughter and prompted Abdul-Jabbar to cover his eyes.
Statue Details and Franchise Honors: 1972, 1982, 1985, 1987, 1988
Printed on the curtains surrounding the statue were Riley’s championship years: 1972 listed as a player and 1982, 1985, 1987 and 1988 listed from his tenure as head coach. That display, organizers said, makes Riley the eighth Lakers legend to receive a statue outside the arena. Purple confetti fell as the sun glittered on the bronze, and Riley spoke for nearly 31 minutes, saying he had fallen to his knees when he was told the honor would place a “kid from Schenectady, New York” on the plaza of legends and calling the moment “tears of joy and gratitude. ”
LeBron James and the Miami Run Revisited
Later, after the Lakers’ loss to the Celtics on Sunday night, LeBron James and Riley publicly revisited their time together in Miami. James spent four years with the Heat and Riley, a stretch that produced four consecutive NBA Finals appearances and back-to-back championships. That Miami run ended in 2014, after four years and two NBA championships, when James opted to return to Cleveland to bring a title to the franchise that drafted him.
Both men acknowledged wondering what more they might have accomplished with more time together. Riley said he had thought the assembly of the Big Three — Dwyane, Chris Bosh and especially LeBron — could have become a dynasty, noting the four trips to the Finals in a row and two world championships and saying he saw something that “could have lasted eight to 10 years. ” James described the four seasons as great, saying it is natural to look back and ask “what could have been” while pointing to the two championships and the memories they built.
Micky Arison, the Heat and Legacy Connections
Jeanie Buss publicly thanked Miami Heat owner Micky Arison — who sat in the second row at the ceremony — and the Heat organization for granting permission that allowed the Lakers to move forward with the honor. That clearance made the presentation possible and brought figures from Riley’s Miami years to Los Angeles for the event.
Dwyane Wade, who played for Riley in Miami (where he served as an executive and team president) from 2003-2016 and 2018-2019, praised Riley’s impact on culture and leadership, saying his legacy is “excellence” and “forever. ” Riley later quipped that Wade possesses Lakers DNA and, in a press conference, credited lessons learned from coaching players such as Johnson, Abdul-Jabbar, Jamaal Wilkes, Bob McAdoo, James Worthy, A. C. Green, Kurt Rambis, Norm Nixon and Byron Scott for shaping those relationships.
What makes this notable is how the ceremony threaded Riley’s multiple eras — player, Showtime coach and Heat executive — into a single public moment, underscoring both the trophies and the personal bonds that followed him from Los Angeles to Miami and back.
