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Los Angeles Lakers
Aug 14, 2025 4:15 PM EDT
The Los Angeles Lakers are heading into a new season led by head coach JJ Redick, starring two of the NBA’s biggest stars.
LeBron James and Luka Doncic are looking to help bring an NBA title to Los Angeles, which would be the franchise’s first championship win since 2020.
The Lakers are one of the most storied franchises in the NBA, having won 17 NBA titles, second to the Boston Celtics (18) in league history.
Pat Riley, who is currently president of the Miami Heat, played a large role in several of those Lakers championships.
Riley was the head coach of the Showtime Lakers in the 1980s after playing for the team for five-plus seasons in the 1970s.
On Thursday, the Lakers announced that Riley will have his statue outside of Crypto.com Arena unveiled on Feb. 22. As reporter Ryan Ward mentioned, the unveiling will come right before a matchup against the Boston Celtics.
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As a player, Riley was a member of the San Diego Rockets from 1967-70. He then played for the Lakers from 1970-75 and retired in 1976 after one season with the Phoenix Suns.
Riley scored 6.7 points per game for the 1971-72 Lakers, who won the organization’s first title in Los Angeles after relocating from Minneapolis in 1960.
Los Angeles Lakers head coach JJ Redick. — Source: © Jesse Johnson-Imagn Images
Riley’s coaching career began with the Lakers, becoming an assistant in 1979 and then taking over as head coach 11 games into the 1981-82 season.
Riley helped the Lakers to four NBA titles in nine seasons, leading a star-studded team that included Hall of Famers Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Magic Johnson and James Worthy.
About the Author
Max Escarpio
Trending News Writer, Athlon Sports
Max Escarpio is a trending news writer for Athlon Sports.