Pat Riley statue unveiled as pat riley reflects on missed Heat ‘dynasty’ with LeBron James

On the night the Los Angeles Lakers unveiled a bronze statue honoring Pat Riley outside Crypto. com Arena, pat riley used a news conference in Los Angeles to reflect on the Miami Heat years with LeBron James and the Big 3. The dual moment mattered because it placed Riley’s coaching and front-office eras side by side: a public honor outside the arena and a public reckoning with a familiar what-if.

Unveiling at Crypto. com Arena and Star Plaza on Feb. 22, 2026

The Lakers unveiled a new statue of Pat Riley outside Crypto. com Arena at Star Plaza before the team’s game against the Boston Celtics on February 22, 2026. Jeanie Buss called Riley someone who "forever changed the history of our league — with flair and swagger, " and described him as a "guardian angel for the franchise. " Earvin "Magic" Johnson said Riley was the "greatest in-game adjustment coach we’ve ever seen, " adding, "Thank you for pushing me to another level. " The statue places Riley alongside franchise icons including Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Jerry West, Shaquille O'Neal, Kobe Bryant and Chick Kern.

Pat Riley's career milestones and honors on display

At 80 years old, Riley remains an influential executive and serves as president of the Heat. He rose to prominence as the architect of the Lakers’ high-octane "Showtime" era in the 1980s and guided Los Angeles to four NBA championships. Riley later delivered the Miami Heat’s first NBA title and has won five championships as a head coach overall. He was named Coach of the Year three times with three different franchises — the Lakers (1989-90), New York Knicks (1992-93) and Heat (1996-97) — and earned 11 Coach of the Month honors between 1983 and 2006. Over his coaching career he led teams to at least 50 wins in 17 seasons, including seven 60-win campaigns, and was inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame in 2008.

Riley reflects on the Heat Big 3 and what might have lasted eight to 10 years

On the same night of the unveiling, Riley spoke about LeBron James’ four seasons with the Miami Heat. He said putting together what he called the Big 3 — Dwyane Wade, Chris Bosh and LeBron James — felt like the making of a dynasty. Riley noted four consecutive trips to the Finals and two world championships, and said he saw something that "could have lasted eight to 10 years. " Riley, 80, spoke during a news conference in Los Angeles and said he believed James could have led the Heat to a third title. He also said he "understood" James’ decision to leave the Heat, noting that players have the chance to go elsewhere and that James went to Cleveland and won a title there. Riley added that he wished James "nothing but the best, " while also admitting a selfish wish that he had James for "another six or eight years. " Anthony Chiang relayed Riley’s view that the run with the Big 3 had dynasty potential.

LeBron James’s response and later milestones

All-Star LeBron James paid respect to Heat president Pat Riley at the time of the unveiling. When a reporter relayed Riley’s comments, James said, "I never said I’m going to go there four years and decide to go somewhere else, " adding that it was "human nature to look back and say what could have been" and that the four years with the Heat were "great, " with two championships won and two lost. James later went on to win his fourth title — and his first with the Lakers — in 2020. On the same night as the unveiling, the Lakers lost to the Celtics, 111-89.

Voices at the ceremony, absences and other Heat notes

Shaquille O’Neal could not attend the ceremony but said Riley "changed a franchise" and that fans "are going to see greatness standing right there for years to come, " adding, "That’s not style. That’s legacy. " Dwyane Wade, who won a title under Riley in Miami, said Riley "changed the game by building culture. " Magic Johnson also invoked Jerry Buss, Jerry West and broadcaster Chick Hearn as figures ‘‘surely smiling from above. " The photo caption for the event noted the statue unveiling before the Lakers’ Feb. 22, 2026 game against the Boston Celtics at Crypto. Com Arena.

Separate items tied to the Heat from the same coverage included Erik Spoelstra defending Myron Gardner after a $35, 000 fine, with the declaration that Gardner was an "easy target, " and questions about Davion Mitchell and Nikola Jovic’s status for a Bucks game amid a doctor visit.

Riley’s closing line: standards and excellence

During his remarks Sunday, Riley reflected on the standards that defined his career, saying, "It’s not about mediocre. It’s about excellence. " That line framed both the bronze statue outside the arena and his later public reflections on a chapter of his career tied to LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh.