LOS ANGELES – Feb. 22, 2026 – The Los Angeles Lakers on Monday revealed an eight-foot, 510-pound bronze statue of former head coach Pat Riley on the Star Plaza at Crypto.com Arena, honoring the architect of the franchise’s famed Showtime era.
The sculpture was unveiled before the Lakers faced their long-time rivals, the Boston Celtics. Positioned between existing statues of Earvin “Magic” Johnson and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, the piece depicts Riley in a Giorgio Armani suit, crocodile leather belt and his 1985 championship ring, his right fist raised in the sideline gesture that signaled Johnson to feed Abdul-Jabbar for a skyhook.
Created by artists Omri Amrany and Sean Bell of Rotblatt Amrany Studio, the statue’s base lists Riley’s accomplishments across 24 head-coaching seasons, including 1,381 regular-season and playoff victories—fifth most in NBA history. An inscription beneath his name reads in part: “There will come a time when you are challenged… You must make a point about who you are, what you do, and where you come from.” A verse from Mark 3:25—“A house divided against itself will not stand”—appears on the right side, echoing a message Riley often shared with his Showtime teams.
“Significance doesn’t come from comfort. It comes from adversity, from discipline, from refusing to be ordinary,” Riley told the crowd. “That statue right there is loaded up with all of us who took this magical journey.”
Riley became the Lakers’ head coach during the 1981-82 season and guided the club to four championships. Under his leadership Los Angeles won at least 50 games every year—including five 60-win campaigns—and he earned NBA Coach of the Year honors in his final season with the team. He is the eighth individual and the first coach in Lakers history to receive a statue outside the arena.
Source: Lakers Nation
