Lakers unveil Pat Riley statue: Icons Magic Johnson, Kareem-Abdul Jabbar laud team's first coach to get honor
CBS Sports
by
Bryan DeArdo
February 23, 2026
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Lakers Unveil Pat Riley Statue: A Historic Tribute to a Legendary Coach
The Los Angeles Lakers recently honored their iconic coach Pat Riley by unveiling a statue in his likeness outside Crypto.com Arena, marking the first time a Lakers coach has received such an honor. Riley, who led the "Showtime Lakers" to four NBA titles during the 1980s, was celebrated as the eighth member of the franchise to receive this distinction. The statue captures Riley in his signature style—sporting his sleek Armani suit and iconic slicked-back hair—and features a poignant quote from his father: *"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. And when that time comes, you do it."* This quote, which Riley referenced during his famous pregame speech in the 1985 NBA Finals, encapsulates his leadership and resilience during one of the most decorated eras in Lakers history.
The ceremony brought together a host of basketball legends, including Magic Johnson, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Shaquille O'Neal, and Dwyane Wade. Each spoke to Riley's profound impact on their careers and the Lakers organization. O'Neal shared a memorable anecdote about Riley's intense coaching methods, recalling how he dunked his head in freezing water for over four minutes during a motivational exercise. "That's how he coached," O'Neal said. "Everything was urgent, everything was intense, everything championship level." Johnson and Abdul-Jabbar also praised Riley, with Johnson
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Originally published on CBS Sports on 2/23/2026