Overview
- Unveiled Sunday before the Lakers’ game against the Celtics, the ceremony featured the 80-year-old Riley, who closed by urging L.A. to “kick some Boston ass.”
- The sculpture depicts Riley in a Giorgio Armani suit with a raised fist and includes a base inscription he attributes to his father about standing firm when challenged.
- The piece, created by Omri Amrany and Sean Bell of Rotblatt Amrany Studio, stands nearly eight feet tall and weighs about 510 pounds.
- Attendees included Lakers greats Magic Johnson and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Heat figures Dwyane Wade and owner Micky Arison, and actor Michael Douglas, who spoke at the event.
- Riley coached the Lakers from 1981 to 1990, going 533–194 with four championships and seven Finals appearances, a run that defined the franchise’s Showtime identity.