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The Lakers will fittingly honor Riley against
their long-time rival, the Boston Celtics.
Riley coached the Lakers from from 1981 to 1990 during the
team's “Showtime” era and won four NBA championships (1982,
1985, 1987, 1988). He led the Lakers through one of the most
dynamic eras for any team in NBA history. With Johnson and
Abdul-Jabbar leading an exciting roster with a groundbreaking
fast-break offense, the Lakers went 533-194 (.733) in Riley’s
tenure and added 102 playoff victories over nine seasons.
The Lakers won at least 50 games in each of his nine seasons as
coach and they won at least 60 games in five straight seasons.
He was named NBA Coach of the Year with the Lakers in 1989-90.
He played for Los Angeles from 1970 to 1975, and was a team
broadcaster before becoming Paul Westhead’s assistant in 1979.
Riley was part of the 1971=72 team that won a league-record 33
straight games and won the NBA championship.
The 80-year-old Riley also coached the New York Knicks and the
Miami Heat. He won another championship as coach with the Heat
in 2006 and now serves as their team president.
Just last season, the Heat named the court in their downtown
arena after Riley in a ceremony attended by many of his former
players.
Riley will become the eighth Lakers luminary to be honored with
a statue in Star Plaza, which has become a popular tourist
attraction for fans of the globally popular franchise. The
others are Abdul-Jabbar, Johnson, Bryant, Elgin Baylor, Jerry
West, Shaquille O’Neal and broadcaster Chick Hearn.
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