"It had been almost 20 years since the last team that won back-to-back championships, the 1968-69 Celtics, and yet there was the "calculating" Riley making his guarantee. "We're all sitting there at the Forum and he's on the damn pedestal talking and he said, 'I'm guaranteeing everyone here next year we are going to win it again.' We were just like, 'What did he just say? We're still trying to enjoy this one,'" Scott recalled, laughing."
"The Lakers had defeated the hated Boston Celtics in the 1987 NBA Finals and there stood coach Pat Riley at the Forum in Inglewood with a microphone in his hands and joyous players behind him relishing the moment. Riley then made a declaration. "I'm guaranteeing everyone here next year we are going to win it again," Riley said. He quickly looked back at his shocked players. Byron Scott said it was the kind of moment that showed why Riley is having his statue unveiled by the Lakers on Sunday at Crypto.com Arena,"
The Lakers defeated the Boston Celtics in the 1987 NBA Finals. Coach Pat Riley publicly guaranteed the team would win the championship again the following year, surprising players. Byron Scott recalled the moment and linked it to Riley's impending statue unveiling at Crypto.com Arena. Riley won four championships and reached seven Finals during his nine seasons coaching the franchise. Scott argued that Riley belongs among Lakers greats and that the Showtime era was as much about Riley as star players. Riley's guarantee prompted players to begin workouts earlier and maintain focus during the offseason, with teammates training together at the UCLA track.
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