There was always something cinematic about Pat Riley . The slicked-back hair. The Armani suits. The glare that could cut through the roar of a packed Forum. He wasn’t just a coach—he was the face of the Los Angeles Lakers Showtime Era, the man who orchestrated basketball’s most exhilarating theater. Now, more than three decades after his final game at the Lakers’ helm, Riley will take his place in bronze alongside the legends he once guided to glory.

The Los Angeles Lakers announced Thursday that Riley’s statue will be unveiled on Sunday, Feb. 22, 2026, at Star Plaza outside Crypto.com Arena . Fittingly, the curtain will rise before the Lakers host their eternal rivals, the Boston Celtics—a team Riley clashed with in some of the most unforgettable Finals in NBA history.

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