The Los Angeles Lakers have officially set the date. On Feb. 22, 2026, Pat Riley will take his place among the legends outside Crypto.com Arena, with a statue unveiling that could not come on a more perfect night.
That evening the Lakers will host the Boston Celtics, the very team Riley battled with in some of the most iconic NBA Finals in league history. Talk about poetic.
Riley led the Lakers to four NBA championships and seven Finals appearances during his nine-season run as head coach from 1981 to 1990. Two of those titles came against the Celtics.