The mystique of the Los Angeles Lakers and the shine of the “Showtime” era came back to life this Sunday in Los Angeles with a tribute to legendary coach Pat Riley, who unveiled his statue-just the eighth in the Star Plaza outside the California team’s home-but as that was happening, LeBron James raised a question.
LeBron James reflected on his time with Pat Riley when the two were together with the Miami Heat.
Even though more than a decade has passed since “The King” left South Beach, both icons used the reunion to speculate about the roads not taken and what their relationship might have been like had it lasted longer.
Riley, with his trademark candor, did not hide his wish to have extended that dynasty: “I wish him the best, but I’m going to be selfish here and say I wish I had him for another six or eight years. It would have been great. But we’ll never know, right?”
For his part, LeBron-who played his 1,600th regular-season game this Sunday, leaving him just 11 shy of Robert Parish’s all-time record-also allowed himself to look back. “It’s human nature to look back and say, ‘Yeah, what could have been?’ That’s part of life. The four years we had were great,” James said, admitting that in 2014 he did not expect his career to extend another 12 seasons and that perhaps this led him to make a decision that distanced him from Riley.
LeBron James took the opportunity to praise the coach. “He’s one of the greatest of all time to ever be a part of this league... What he did here for the Lakers organization in the ’80s goes without saying, and that’s why he rightfully has a statue outside the building.”
Tribute to “The Godfather”: The unveiling of Pat Riley’s statue
Sunday’s ceremony was the main event ahead of the showdown between the Lakers and the Boston Celtics. The Los Angeles organization fulfilled its promise to immortalize the architect of the 1980s with an imposing bronze statue. Riley, ever elegant, watched as his legacy was sealed alongside that of his pupils Magic Johnson and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.
“That statue is loaded with all of us, the ones who embarked on that magical journey together,” an emotional Riley declared.
“The Godfather” in South Beach: Riley’s success in Miami
Although the tribute honored his time on the Lakers’ bench, Riley achieved major success with the Miami Heat after arriving in 1995.
- NBA championships: 3 titles for the franchise (2006 as coach/president; 2012 and 2013 as president).
- The “Big Three” era: 4 consecutive Finals appearances (2011-2014) and 2 championships with LeBron, Wade, and Bosh.
- Longevity: Nearly 30 years leading the Heat’s basketball operations.
They say it’s impossible to turn back time, but it is clear that if LeBron James and Riley had spent more time together, the success in Miami surely would have been even greater.
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