The Los Angeles Lakers added another permanent piece to their history on Sunday, unveiling a statue honoring Pat Riley outside Crypto.com Arena. And fittingly, the moment ended with a reminder of exactly what Riley represented during the franchise’s golden “Showtime” era.
Riley, who coached the Lakers to seven NBA Finals appearances in nine seasons and four championships, became the first head coach in franchise history to receive a statue.
He is now the eighth Lakers figure memorialized outside the arena, joining legends who helped define one of basketball’s most dominant stretches.
The ceremony included NBA royalty – Magic Johnson, Dwyane Wade, Lakers governor Jeanie Buss, and Hall of Famer Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. Standing before the crowd, Riley reflected on his time in Los Angeles and the moments that still define his legacy.
“The time has flown by, it really has,” Riley said. “Over the years, I regularly go back and I can recall each championship, the one play, the one moment.”
Riley took time to thank those who shared the stage with him, including longtime assistant Bill Bertka, acknowledging the relationships that shaped his coaching career.
But with the Lakers set to face the Boston Celtics later that evening, Riley could not resist leaning into the rivalry that defined so much of his tenure.
“The time has come to kick some a–,” Riley told the crowd. “To kick some Boston a–.”
The line instantly drew cheers, serving as the perfect closing note on a day rooted in Lakers tradition.
An inscription on the base captures the mindset Riley preached throughout his career:
“There will come a time when you are challenged, and when that time comes, you must plant your feet. You must stand firm. You must make a point. About who you are, what you do, and where you come from.”
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