"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."
"Riley finally is coming home, returning Sunday with the unveiling of a long overdue statue in whose bronze reflection a couple of wistful realizations can be found. Riles has been terribly, terribly missed. The Showtime era seems terribly, terribly distant. Riley hasn't been with the Lakers in 36 years. The Lakers haven't won an asterisk-free NBA title in 16 years."
Pat Riley resigned from the Lakers 36 years ago after a lost season, departing without a public farewell despite a .730 winning percentage and 102 playoff victories that were records at the time. Riley is now being commemorated with a long-overdue statue placed between Magic Johnson and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, symbolizing his leadership during the Showtime era. The ceremony emphasized how Riley had been overlooked and how the Showtime era feels distant, noting the Lakers have not won an asterisk-free NBA title in 16 years and highlighting a televised contribution from Shaquille O'Neal.
Read at Los Angeles Times
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