Past to Present: Can Miami Heat's Team President Pat Riley Do It Again?
"Giving yourself permission to lose guarantees a loss." -Pat Riley
After a relatively mediocre playing career, Pat Riley went on to work as a broadcaster for the Los Angeles Lakers. With a lackluster professional basketball career which saw Riley contribute very little to the San Diego Rockets, Los Angeles Lakers and Phoenix Suns, no one could anticipate the unimaginable positive influence Riley has had with the various teams he has worked with.
The former 7th overall pick in the first round of the 1967 NBA Draft would end up winning one NBA championship as a player, coaching six teams to the NBA Championship and winning three NBA Coach of the Year trophies. His legacy was solidified when the NBA regarded him as one of the top 10 coaches in NBA history in 1996. In 2008 his career, contribution to the NBA and impact on the game of basketball would forever be cemented as Pat Riley was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame.
Yet the journey is far from over.
This year, after the highly publicized acquisition of LeBron James and Chris Bosh, Riley has been widely considered the mastermind behind what could potentially be another NBA title.
This slide show takes a look at Pat Riley as the Lakers broadcaster in 1977 to the Hall of Fame legend he is today.
1977-80: Pat Riley Gets His First Chance.
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"Don't let other people tell you what you want" - Pat Riley
After an indistinguishable basketball career which saw Riley average 7.4ppg during his career and shot 41.4 percent from the field, Riley would retire after 11 years and eventually become a broadcaster with the Los Angeles Lakers in 1977.
His broadcasting career was halted after another opportunity presented itself. Jack McKinney, the appointed coach of the Lakers, would have his coaching career abruptly cut short due to a near fatal head injury sustained in a bicycle accident. 14 games into the 1979-1980 NBA season, Lakers assistant coach Paul Westhead took over as the head coach. With an assistant coach desperately needed, the Lakers turned to then broadcaster Pat Riley.
Riley joined the Lakers staff as an assistant head coach. Riley would form a unique relationship with then rookie guard from Michigan State, Magic Johnson. The Lakers won 60 games during the 1979-80 season and would go on to win the NBA Finals, defeating the Sixers in six games.
Riley, given his first opportunity as an assistant coach under Paul Westhead had begun the start of an illustrious career in the NBA.
1981-89: Showtime and Its Success
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"A champion needs a motivation above and beyond winning" - Pat Riley
The 1981-82 Los Angeles Lakers campaign was marred by conflict, controversy and tension as Magic Johnson demanded a trade due to a deteriorating relationship with coach Paul Westhead. However, this would not continue for long as Lakers owner Jerry Buss made the decision to keep Johnson happy, subsequently firing Westhead.
Pat Riley was promoted to head coach while former friend and teammate Jerry West became Riley's assistant. Here began the "Showtime" Lakers. Riley considered star point-guard Magic as "family" and thus catered the offense to suit Magic Johnson.
The Lakers would run a fast break offense under Riley which utilized Johnson's speed, awareness, and ability to hustle in transition. This fast break offense was a result of less X's and O's and more tempo.
"Showtime" which was implemented by Riley, would see Magic Johnson flourish with his style, quickness, and ability to explode. The supporting cast also played an instrumental role in the development of "Showtime". Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, James Worthy and company, supported and were great assets to this fast break style.
The Lakers won 4 Championships spanning from 1982-89, all under head coach Pat Riley. Success became habitual.
1990-2003: Showtime Ends Along with an Inability to Win Championships
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"People who create 20% of the results will begin believing they deserve 80% of the rewards."- Pat Riley
The 1990 NBA season would be last season Pat Riley ever coached the Lakers. The Lakers won 63 games during the 1989-90 NBA season and eventually lost to the Phoenix Suns in the playoffs. Despite not winning the Championship, Pat Riley was named NBA Coach of the Year.
This was expected to be the pinnacle of his career. From a virtually known basketball player to four championships in seven years, Riley was compensating for various deprivations during his playing career. He had style, swagger and most importantly, he knew how to win. The national spotlight was now on him and he embraced this role.
However things would change.
Bill Bertka, Riley's assistant stated "Only a miracle will make Pat change his mind now. His decision will be not to come back." Riley abruptly resigned as coach from the Los Angeles Lakers.
Riley became the head coach of the Knicks in 1991. Despite returning to the finals in 1994, his Knicks lost to the Rockets in seven games.
This would be the last of Pat Riley and the New York Knicks.
1995-2003: The Dry Spell Continues, Riley Back in a Managerial Position
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“There are only two options regarding commitment. You're either in or you're out. There's no such thing as life in-between.” - Pat Riley
In 1995, Riley resigned from the head coach of the New York Knicks and became head coach of the Miami Heat.
The Heat would continuously have winning seasons but were devoured by Michael Jordan and company in the first round of the 1995 NBA Playoffs. The Heat would continue to win but were struck by the New York Knicks who eliminated them from playoffs in 1998, 1999 and 2000.
Riley rebuilt the team by trading away core players such as Tim Hardaway and Jamal Mashburn. Frustrated with an implosion in 2002, which saw the Heat regress to a disappointing 36-46 season, Riley stepped down as head coach to become general manager.
The baton was now passed to assistant Stan Van Gundy.
2005-06: The Unorthodox Return to the Title
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“You have no choices about how you lose, but you do have a choice about how you come back and prepare to win again.” - Pat Riley
As the baton was passed to Stan Van Gundy, Riley worked endlessly to produce a championship winning caliber roster. Dwyane Wade quickly progressed into one of the most athletic players in the NBA. Riley had also acquired Shaq during the prior season, an acquisition that would prove essential to the Heat during the 2005-2006 season.
Riley wanted to coach again, the desire was there. He spent a couple years fine-tuning the Miami Heat and finally got a roster he felt could achieve great success. Just like the Lakers during the 80's, this was a Pat Riley team. He hand crafted this team and was not about to let anything stand in the way, including head coach Stan Van Gundy, who he fired after the 11-10 start to begin the 2005-2006 season.
This was Riley's opportunity to shine again. He knew the team he built had the chance to win it all.
With Dwyane Wade playing the best basketball of his career and Shaq shooting 60 percent from the field, the Heat went on to win in the 2006 NBA Finals, beating the Mavericks in six games.
18 years after his previous NBA title, Pat Riley was at the top of the world once again. He returned to the land of glory.
With ailing health, Pat Riley retired in 2007 but continued to serve his managerial role as team president.
An Aging Legend: Can Pat Riley Do It Again?
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“To have long term success as a coach or in any position of leadership, you have to be obsessed in some way.” -Pat Riley
30 years later and we are all left to wonder. Does Pat Riley have it in him to be the mastermind behind another NBA title?
Now aged 66, it's clear this is not the same person that led Magic Johnson and the Los Angeles Lakers to multiple titles. This is not the same man who implemented "Showtime." This is not the same man who put down the X's and O's and allowed Magic Johnson and company to execute one of the most prolific, high tempo offenses in basketball history.
This is not even the Pat Riley of 2006. He isn't the man who spent a couple years crafting the perfect lineup for a championship run.
The Pat Riley we know today has built a championship contending team in just one off-season. He has stunned the world with the acquisition of two all-stars to play alongside his own savior in 2006, Dwyane Wade.
He has repeatedly stated he has no intention to return to coaching and despite hearing this story before, most tend to believe him this time around. His demeanor lacks the swagger, the eccentric style and the distinguishable attitude he once had.
Yet, in one off season he has enabled the Miami Heat to make an instant run for the title.
Has Pat Riley stunned us all by showing that he could have an instrumental role in one more NBA title?
We will soon find out but as his illustrious career indicates, Riley knows how to win and success has become habitual.
