Miami Heat’s Pat Riley: Know The Legend Whose Set To Have 19th NBA Final Appearance

Patrick James Riley, also known as Pat Riley, was an American basketball player, coach, and executive who was one of the National Basketball Association’s (NBA) all-time greatest coaches. Riley was born on March 20, 1945, in Rome, New York.

When Riley took over as head coach of the Los Angeles Lakers in 1988, the club had only won two titles in a row, but Riley nevertheless applied for a trademark on the phrase “three-peat.” Riley, one of the most brazen, flamboyant, and successful players in the history of the game, is summed up by his assurance in his career and legacy.

Pat Riley, the club president, will be taking part in the Finals for the 19th time as a player, coach, or executive thanks to the Miami Heat’s surprising journey from the Play-In Tournament all the way to the league’s championship round.

This puts him on par with former Boston Celtics general manager and coach Red Auerbach, but much behind all-time leader Jerry West. In his career as an All-Star, coach, general manager, and adviser, the Hall of Fame Lakers guard has participated in the Finals 30 times, first with his original team and most recently with Golden State.

Riley was a young basketball and football star. Riley had one of the most distinguished basketball careers at the University of Kentucky while playing for the famous Adolph Rupp.

He guided the team to the NCAA championship game in 1966, when they were defeated by Texas Western University (now the University of Texas at El Paso), the first team to win the championship with an all-African American starting lineup. Both the Dallas Cowboys and the San Diego Rockets selected Riley in the first round of their respective 1967 drafts for the NBA and the National Football League, respectively.

He stuck with basketball and went on to win a title with the  Lakers in 1972 but was never more than a role player during his on-court professional career.

Riley’s coaching career started with the ‘Showtime’ Lakers

Riley’s career as a great coach began there. In 1981, L.A. suffered a shock loss in the opening round, and early in 1981–1982, Johnson—who had watched his rival Larry Bird lead Boston to the title in 1980–1981—became disenchanted with Westhead’s coaching approach.

Johnson told reporters he wanted to be traded after an argument in the locker room in Utah. Westhead was sacked and Riley was given a promotion within a day. Riley led the Lakers to 50 victories out of their final 71 games by relying on his exceptional point guard. Then, they dominated the postseason with a 12-2 record, eliminating Philadelphia, Phoenix, and San Antonio on route to the championship.

With that unique mix of great players, which included Magic Johnson, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, and James Worthy, he won five titles in eight NBA Finals appearances after winning the championship as the Lakers’ head coach in 1980.

Riley then made his way back to New York, where the Knicks had just made him the highest-paid coach in the league.

He stayed there from 1991 until 1995 and reached the 1994 NBA Finals, but Michael Jordan’s Chicago Bulls were too strong for him to win the city a title.

Riley started coaching Heats

Riley reappeared in 1991 as the head coach of the New York Knicks, when he once again compiled outstanding stats but was unable to secure a championship. Riley’s adaptability as a coach was highlighted by the Knicks’ tough, physical performance in a game that was the antithesis of Showtime. He left to coach the Miami Heat in 1995, and the Knicks and Heat soon developed a fierce rivalry.

The tale of Pat Riley is also the story of the Miami Heat. He customized the company to reflect his personal preferences.

Miami has only missed the playoffs six times in the 28 seasons since his arrival. In American basketball, it is an unusual circumstance.

The Lakers have missed the postseason eight times throughout that stretch, while the Celtics have missed it nine times.

Riley remained in that position until 2003, when he took a step back to focus on his work in the front office. He went back to coaching for the 2005–06 campaign, though, and helped Shaquille O’Neal and Dwyane Wade, two of the team’s key players, perform well.

Riley believed he had put his coaching days behind him in 2003 when he replaced Stan Van Gundy, who had served as his assistant coach for over ten years, with a club that sought to be competitive no matter the situation.

He was finally benched after the 2005–06 season got off to a rough start, and he won yet another ring.

Riley kept his front-office responsibilities following the 2007–08 season but discontinued coaching. He had a key role in persuading LeBron James to sign with Miami as a free agent in 2010, a decision that helped the team win two more championships (in 2012 and 2013).

There was no denying Riley still loomed large, even if he was no longer the team’s head coach. Riley was one of the sport’s most compelling—and influential—figures despite being frequently made fun of and even ridiculed for his carriage. In 2008, he received his induction into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.

Riley is back in the Finals for the 19th time, this time presiding over a coach (Spoelstra) who is at the height of his powers, a closer (Jimmy Butler) who achieves mostly through pure force of will, and a squad with several undrafted players. His subsequent ring will be his tenth.

 

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