Pat Riley. Jim Rassol-Imagn Images

'Forever a part of history': Lakers announce plan to honor team legend

By Andrew Kulha | Last updated Aug 14, 2025 10:06 PM ET

The average NBA fan in 2025 associates Pat Riley with the Miami Heat, but seasoned hoops heads know that he first became an NBA legend with the Los Angeles Lakers.

According to the Associated Press (via ESPN), the Lakers are planning on honoring his iconic time with the franchise during the 2025-26 season.

The Lakers are going to honor Riley with a statue outside of Crypto.com Arena in Star Plaza. He'll be the eighth Lakers legend to get a statue, joining the likes of Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Magic Johnson, Kobe Bryant, Elgin Baylor, Jerry West, Shaquille O'Neal and Chick Hearn.

Forever a part of Lakers history.

We are honored to share that Pat Riley’s statue will be unveiled on Star Plaza on February 22. pic.twitter.com/p6ozuVn1Rw
— Los Angeles Lakers (@Lakers) August 14, 2025

Fittingly, the statue will be unveiled on Feb. 22 when the Lakers play their longtime rival, the Boston Celtics.

Riley went 533-194 as head coach of the Lakers. They won at least 50 games in each of the nine season he roamed their sideline, and they won at least 60 games in five seasons.

He was the NBA's Coach of the Year in 1989-90 with the Lakers — an award he won three times. Riley also had a stint as the head coach of the New York Knicks from 1991 to 1995.

Riley has been the team president of the Miami Heat since 1995. He coached the Heat for 11 seasons over two separate stints and brought three championships to Miami between his time as a coach and executive.

Before his legendary run in Miami, Riley was a central figure of the "Showtime" Lakers. He was the coach in L.A. from 1981 to 1990 and won four championships with the Lakers. Before that, he was a player in Los Angeles from 1970 to 1975 and was a team broadcaster from 1977 until 1979 before joining the coaching ranks.

Andrew Kulha

Andrew Kulha is probably the only sports writer you know who also doubles as a mortician. Spooky! @KulhaSports

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