It’s been a whirlwind year for Pat Riley, and it’s only getting better. Fresh off the Miami Heat’s decision to rename their court in his honor, Riley was hit with yet another incredible accolade. Earlier this week, Magic Johnson and the Los Angeles Lakers—where Riley built a legendary legacy—announced they’d be immortalizing him with a statue on Star Plaza. But amidst the excitement, Lakers owner Jeanie Buss made a special request to Riley.

In a heartfelt video shared by the Lakers, some of the most iconic names in basketball history joined forces to honor Riley. Magic Johnson, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, James Worthy, and others from the Showtime era gathered virtually to break the news to their former head coach. The moment was already electric, but Jeanie Buss stole the show with her heartfelt words—and her playful request. After congratulating Riley, she urged him to consider a very specific look for his statue: one of his signature Armani suits.

“This is a great moment. We’re very excited about it, Pat,” Buss said warmly. “Doing a statue is a process, so we want you very involved in the process to pick out the pose and what you kind of wanna look like and what statement you wanna make. But, you know, come on, you gotta have one of those Armani suits.” Her comment made everyone laugh, a fitting reminder of Riley’s timeless style and charisma.

The tribute left Riley visibly moved, and he expressed his gratitude with his usual humble charm. “It’s like… Oh, Chris, I can’t believe that all you guys, James, everybody, Coop, you know, Kurt, you know, Cap, everybody, you know, Jeanie, Melinda, Chris. Oh, boy. I’m just a kid from Schenectady, New York, you know, and here I am, you know, gonna have a statue, you know, with the Lakers. My God, I don’t know. Oh, man. God bless all of you. Thank you,” Riley said, while his voice filled with emotion.

Riley’s journey with the LA Lakers is legendary, spanning six championships—four as head coach, one as an assistant, and one as a player. With this honor, he’ll become the third member of the Showtime Lakers to receive a statue after Magic and Kareem, and the eighth Lakers icon to grace Star Plaza.

Pat Riley reacts to his huge Lakers honor

It’s not every day you hear someone called a “Lakers icon,” but that’s exactly how Jeanie Buss described Pat Riley this week. “He’s a legend in the game of basketball,” Lakers coach JJ Redick also chimed in, clearly thrilled for Riley. “And obviously did a lot for this franchise … So I’m very happy for him. Well deserved.”

On Wednesday, Riley reflected on his incredible journey with the team, expressing his gratitude to Buss and the Lakers organization. “One of my first messages to the team was, ‘The journey of a thousand miles starts with our first step. Where it takes you, is up to us,’” Riley said, looking back at the start of the Showtime Lakers era. “And it took us to five championships in the 80s.”

But for Riley, this honor feels almost surreal. “It was a hell of a journey, and the fact that it’s ending with the arrival of a statue is mind-blowing to me,” Riley said, his voice full of emotion. “I’d like to thank Jeanie and the entire Buss family for this honor.”