The fans never got an opportunity to give a grateful goodbye, Pat Riley resigning on an early summer afternoon 36 years ago after the end of a lost season. Everyone will have that chance now. When Riley left town at the wrong end of grumblings from players and fans, he was the greatest coach not only in Lakers history but also in basketball history, his . 730 winning percentage and 102 playoff victories both NBA records at the time. Everyone will understand now. He has been Showtime’s forgotten kingpin, its lost leader, its missing warrior, a stylishly distant legend who had been overshadowed by the seven Lakers whose statues stand watch over the plaza outside Crypto conference. “But what he fears more than that is to become extinct with insignificance.” The Showtime Lakers faced those fears and overcame them. “What we accomplished was not insignificant,” he added in his farewell address. “All anybody ever wants to do is have the feeling that what they do counts and matters. I’ve always told the players that they don’t just want to be the best of the best. There’s nothing wrong with being unique. We were unique.” Riley repeated many of those same words Sunday, and added some more wisdom about life with the legends. “That’s where I learned about commitment . there are only two options” he said. “You’re in or you’re out. Either you’re with us or against us. There’s no other way, there’s no life in between.” Riley said that through that commitment, the Lakers legacy had been formed. “The biggest footprint in Laker history had been planted,” he said, later adding, “You begin by chasing footprints, you grow by honoring them. And if you’re committed enough, you leave giant steps of your own.” He then challenged today’s NBA players, even the ones getting dressed down the hall. “I ask even the players who play for the Lakers today, I ask you, whose footprints are you chasing today?” he said. “More important, what footprints are you leaving?” He continued, saying, “When it comes time to kick some ass, you do it. And one day someone will follow the path you left behind and say, ‘Those are footprints worth chasing.”’ Riley ended his talk with what was essentially an inspirational pregame speech as the Lakers prepared to play the rival he finally conquered, those Boston Celtics. “As my father’s words to me, they ring out loud and clear today,” he said with the sort of verve that is rarely heard around the team these days. “The time has come to kick some ass. To kick some Boston ass.” Amen. Mark Walter, were you listening?.
https://www.latimes.com/sports/lakers/story/2026-02-22/during-statue-unveiling-pat-riley-reminds-lakers-of-keys-to-winning