Legendary Los Angeles Lakers head coach Pat Riley is celebrating his 80th birthday.
Pat Riley will go down in history among the most important figures in the NBA, as a coach with the LA Lakers and a team executive with the Miami Heat, winning titles with both.
And while he is currently attracting some flak with the Heat amid their recent losing streak, there is no taking away his past achievements.
Riley played for the Lakers in the early 1970s, winning the championship in 1972, before taking on the job as coach in 1981.
He led the Lakers to an incredible five titles during the 80s, launching the Showtime Lakers, with number one draft pick Magic Johnson an integral part of the success.
Magic Johnson achieved greatness in the NBA, spending his career with the Lakers and having his jersey retired by the team. He also followed Riley by becoming a team executive.
And all these years on, more than 40 years since Johnson was drafted in 1979, he hold Pat Riley’s influence on his career dear.
Upon Riley’s 80th birthday, Johnson penned an emotional message to his former coach, thanking him for the impact he had on himself and his teammates.
He wrote: “Happy 80th birthday to Pat Riley, the greatest coach that’s ever coached in the NBA. Not only was he amazing with x’s and o’s and game planning, he was also a genius at in-game adjustments and we were always prepared for our opponents.
He knew how to get the most out of every single player. People don’t know this but Pat Riley created small ball!
“Coach Riley taught us that champions know winning starts in practice. He emphasized no one would ever out worked us on either end of the court which is why we were able to go to 9 Finals in 12 years winning 5 NBA Championships.
“He had an amazing influence on our lives in basketball but even more so as men. He helped turn young men into great men emphasizing family first, supporting your teammates, and being excellent on and off the court throughout his career.
“That’s why many of his players are doing well in life following their playing careers. When he went into the hall of fame, he had more former players show up to support him than any other coach in Hall of Fame history.
“It speaks to the man that he is and always will be. Riles, I will always love you, thank you for being one of my best friends in life! Enjoy your special day!”
In November 2024, the LA Lakers announced the organization had commissioned for a statue to be built of Pat Riley outside the team’s iconic arena.
President Jeanie Buss declared: “Pat is a Lakers icon. His professionalism, commitment to his craft and game preparation paved the way for the coaching we see across the league today.
“My dad recognized Pat’s obsession and ability to take talented players and coalesce them into a championship team. The style of basketball Pat and the Lakers created in the 80s is still the blueprint for the organization today: an entertaining and winning team.”
The statue is planned to be completed and unveiled in 2026, with no specific date yet set by the team.
