The Los Angeles Lakers made room for another statue outside Crypto Arena. Lakers' legendary head coach and current Miami Heat president Pat Riley now has a golden statue. However the relay ceremony came with some ribs.
Riley stepped inside the Lakers' home venue to accept his latest honor. But the 80-year-old still has jokes especially for James Worthy and others he trained.
Pat Riley's speech at halftime, where he praised James Worthy for being the only former player to wear a tie and mocked everyone else for giving him a $2,000 fine: https://t.co/fqcqzh11fh pic.twitter.com/cUa6lBKVzP
- Khobi Price (@khobi_price) 23 February 2026
The night was filled with laughter and jokes, especially among the famous relay players. But there was still a serious tone from Riley, particularly with this message inscribed on his statue:
The message reads, "There will come a time when you will be challenged. And when that time comes, you have to find your footing. You have to stand firm. You have to make a point. Who you are, what you do and where you come from. And when that time comes, you do this."
That quote came during the 1985 NBA Finals won by LA against the rival Boston Celtics.
Comparing current Lakers coach to Pat Riley?
The four-time NBA champion with the Lakers Riley founded the famous "Showtime Lakers" of the 1980s. Riley turned to names like Kareem Abdul-Jabar, Magic Johnson, Worthy and others to dominate in the 1980s.
JJ Redick now occupies the position that Riley made famous nearly four decades ago. Redick was a child during the Lakers' run in the '80s — yet many believe his coaching style mimics the great leader.
However, the current Lakers leader decided to give his rose to Riley.
Redick told reporters, "I didn't think much about the comparisons at the time. I think Pat, to me, kind of set the standard for modern NBA coaches and I've always looked at the NBA as two very different eras." “You can make the demarcation point right at the time of the merger or right in 80-81 when Dallas joined as the 23rd team.”
Redick added: "Pat set the standard for what a modern NBA coach should be."
Riley joins Shaquille O'Neal, Johnson, Abdul-Jabar, Jerry West, Elgin Baylor, Chick Hearn and Kobe Bryant as Lakers to erect a statue outside of Crypto.
