Pat Riley Honored with Lakers Statue as He Reflects on Missed 'Dynasty' with LeBron James
On the night the Los Angeles Lakers unveiled a bronze statue for pat riley outside Crypto. com Arena at Star Plaza, Riley used a news conference in Los Angeles to reflect on LeBron James’ four-year run with the Miami Heat and the ‘what ifs’ surrounding that era. The ceremony and Riley’s remarks offered a rare public look at how he views the Heat’s Big 3 period and his hope that the run could have become a longer-lasting dynasty.
Pat Riley honored with bronze statue outside arena
The statue was unveiled outside Crypto. com Arena at Star Plaza in Los Angeles before the game against the Boston Celtics on February 22, 2026. The new bronze memorial is said to immortalize the architect of the "Showtime" era and makes Riley the first person in franchise history recognized primarily for his coaching career with a statue outside the arena. The statue joins a lineup of Lakers icons named in ceremony remarks, including Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Jerry West, Shaquille O'Neal, Kobe Bryant and Chick Kern.
Riley’s reflections on LeBron James and the Heat "Big 3"
At age 80, Riley spoke about the Heat era that paired LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh. He said he believed that when the Big 3 were assembled they had finally put together what he thought could become a dynasty, noting four straight Finals trips and two world championships during that stretch. Riley said he saw something that could have lasted eight to 10 years and wished he had James for another six or eight years, while also saying he understood James’ decision to return to Cleveland, which led to that franchise winning its first championship in history.
The three players won two championships in four seasons before James signed with the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2014. Chris Bosh was offended when James left, and Riley acknowledged that feeling while still expressing acceptance of how events unfolded 12 years after James’ departure. Riley also voiced a wish that James could have led the Heat to at least three championships.
Ceremony reactions and LeBron’s response
The unveiling prompted tributes from several Lakers figures. Lakers governor praised Riley as a "guardian angel for the franchise, " while Earvin "Magic" Johnson called him the "greatest in-game adjustment coach we've ever seen" and thanked Riley for pushing him to another level. Johnson also said that former owner Jerry Buss, Jerry West and legendary broadcaster Chick Hearn were surely smiling from above. Shaquille O'Neal, who could not attend, said Riley "changed a franchise" and that fans would "see greatness standing right there for years to come, " adding, "That's not style. That's legacy. " Dwyane Wade described Riley as someone who "changed the game by building culture. "
LeBron James paid respect to Heat president Pat Riley during the same stretch of events. When Riley’s comments about what could have been were relayed to James, he pushed back on the notion he had promised a specific timeframe, saying he never committed to a four-year stay and that looking back at what happened is human nature. James said the four years were great, they captured two championships and lost two Finals, and that there were many great memories; he added it would have been interesting to see what might have happened.
Riley’s legacy: coaching achievements and standards
At the ceremony Riley reflected on the standards that defined his career, saying, "It's not about mediocre. It's about excellence. " The event highlighted a résumé that includes four Lakers championships as a head coach in the 1980s, delivering Miami’s first NBA title as a coach in 2006, and five championships overall as a head coach. He was named Coach of the Year three times with three different franchises—the Lakers (1989-90), the New York Knicks (1992-93) and the Heat (1996-97—and earned 11 Coach of the Month honors between 1983 and 2006. Riley also 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.
Aftermath of the ceremony and the night’s game
The statue unveiling occurred before the Lakers’ matchup with the Boston Celtics on February 22, 2026, and the Lakers lost that game 111-89 on Sunday. Riley continues to serve as president of the Heat and remains a prominent figure in conversations about coaching, team building and franchise culture. Observers noted both the celebration of his Lakers past and his ongoing role in Miami at the ceremony and in the subsequent media exchanges.
