Pat Riley

Patrick James "Pat" Riley (born March 20, 1945 in Rome, New York) is a NBA basketball coach and player who has coached four championship team, in addition to playing for one.

Related Topics:
March 20 - 1945 - Rome, New York - NBA - Basketball

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Riley was a versatile athlete in college, participating in both basketball and football. He led the 1966 University of Kentucky basketball team to the NCAA title game, where they lost to Texas Western (now known as UTEP). He was selected by the San Diego Rockets in the 1st round of the 1967 NBA Draft, and was also drafted as a flanker by the Dallas Cowboys in the 11th round of the 1967 NFL draft. He decided to join the Rockets, but was unimpressive as a player. Riley later signed with the Los Angeles Lakers, helping them win the 1972 NBA Finals. After a relatively obscure playing career, he retired as a player in 1976.

Related Topics:
Football - 1966 - University of Kentucky - NCAA - UTEP - San Diego Rockets - 1967 NBA Draft - Dallas Cowboys - NFL - Los Angeles Lakers - 1972 - NBA Finals - 1976

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Riley returned to the NBA in the early 1980s as an assistant coach with the Lakers. He became head coach in 1982, and led the Lakers to victory against the Philadelphia 76ers for the championship that year. Both teams returned to the NBA Finals in 1983, but Riley's Lakers were swept by the 76ers. The Lakers lost in the Finals again in 1984, losing to the Boston Celtics in seven games. In 1985, however, Riley earned his second NBA title as a coach, when the Lakers beat the Celtics in six games. However, the Lakers were defeated in the Western Conference Finals by the Houston Rockets in 1986.

Related Topics:
1980s - 1982 - Philadelphia 76ers - 1983 - 1984 - Boston Celtics - 1985 - Houston Rockets - 1986

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Riley redeemed himself in 1987, with a Lakers team that is considered one of the greatest teams of all time. With future Hall-of-Famers Magic Johnson, James Worthy and Kareem Abdul Jabbar, plus important role players such as Michael Cooper and Byron Scott, the Lakers finished 65-17 in the regular season, third-best in team history. They met with simliar success in the playoffs, dispatching the Celtics in six games to win the NBA title.

Related Topics:
1987 - Hall-of-Famers - Magic Johnson - James Worthy - Kareem Abdul Jabbar - Michael Cooper - Byron Scott

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One of Riley's most famous moments came when he promised the crowd a repeat championship during the Lakers' championship parade in downtown Los Angeles. While the 1988 Lakers did not produce as many wins in the regular season as the 1987 Lakers, they were just as successful in the playoffs, becoming the first team in 20 years to repeat as champions. The Lakers beat the Detroit Pistons in seven games in the 1988 NBA Finals, making good on Riley's promise. But in 1989, the Lakers, plagued by injuries, were swept by the Pistons in the Finals.

Related Topics:
Los Angeles - 1988 - Detroit Pistons - 1989

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Riley stepped down as coach of the Lakers after they lost to the Phoenix Suns in the 1990 NBA playoffs, amid rumors of player mistreatment and anger problems by his part. In spite of these rumors and his resignation, he was named NBA Coach of the Year for the first time.

Related Topics:
Phoenix Suns - 1990 - NBA Coach of the Year

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After stepping down as coach, Riley accepted a job as a television commentator for NBC after leaving the Lakers. However, this job only lasted one year, as he became head coach of the New York Knicks in 1991. In 1993, he led the Knicks to their best regular season record in team history and received his second Coach of the Year award. Riley returned to the NBA Finals in 1994, but his Knicks lost in seven games to the Rockets. In 1995, Riley resigned, and instead became head coach and general manager of the Miami Heat. In 1997, Riley was selected as Coach of the Year for the third time, after leading the Heat to a 61-21 regular season record, 1st in the Atlantic division.

Related Topics:
Television - NBC - New York Knicks - 1991 - 1993 - 1994 - 1995 - Miami Heat - 1997

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After finishing a respectable 50-32 in 2001, the Heat lost two of their best players when guard Tim Hardaway was traded to the Dallas Mavericks and Anthony Mason signed with the Milwaukee Bucks. In part because of these departures, the Heat finished a disappointing 36-46 in 2002. Riley was so disgusted with the Heat's performance that he declared he was about to "fire himself". Before the beginning of the 2003-2004 season, he did step down as Heat coach, to fully dedicate his attention to his duties as general manager. One of his biggest moves as full-time general manager was to trade Caron Butler, Brian Grant, Lamar Odom and a first-round draft pick to the Lakers for superstar Shaquille O'Neal.

Related Topics:
2001 - Tim Hardaway - Dallas Mavericks - Milwaukee Bucks - 2002 - 2003 - 2004 - Caron Butler - Brian Grant - Lamar Odom - Shaquille O'Neal

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Outside of basketball, Riley is known for his friendship with Giorgio Armani, preferring to wear Armani suits during basketball games, and even modeling once at an Armani show.

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Riley is the second all-time winningest coach, behind Lenny Wilkens.

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Riley is also known for copyrighting the word .

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