Los Angeles Lakers Announce Pat Riley Star Plaza Statue

Lakers to Honor Legendary Coach

Statue to be Unveiled at Staples Center

The Los Angeles Lakers announced today that they will be honoring legendary coach Pat Riley with a star plaza statue outside of Staples Center. The statue will be unveiled on November 11th, 2023, before the Lakers' home game against the Miami Heat.

Riley coached the Lakers from 1981 to 1990, leading them to four NBA championships in 1982, 1985, 1987, and 1988. He is also credited with developing the Showtime Lakers, one of the most iconic teams in NBA history. After leaving the Lakers, Riley went on to coach the New York Knicks and the Miami Heat, winning another four NBA championships.

The statue will be located in the Star Plaza outside of Staples Center, alongside statues of other Lakers legends such as Wilt Chamberlain, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, and Magic Johnson. Riley is the 10th Lakers player or coach to be honored with a statue outside of Staples Center.

"Pat Riley is one of the greatest coaches in NBA history," said Lakers owner Jeanie Buss. "His contributions to the Lakers organization are immeasurable, and we are honored to be able to unveil his statue outside of Staples Center. This statue is a testament to his legacy and his impact on the game of basketball."

Riley is one of the most successful coaches in NBA history, with a career record of 1,210 wins and 694 losses. He is also a member of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.