LA Sports Hub
Fansided

Los Angeles Lakers: How former Laker players fare as head coach

By Jamaal Artis

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - MARCH 26: LeBron James #23 speaks with Los Angeles Lakers head coach Luke Walton during the second half of the game against the Washington Wizards at Staples Center on March 26, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Yong Teck Lim/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - MARCH 26: LeBron James #23 speaks with Los Angeles Lakers head coach Luke Walton during the second half of the game against the Washington Wizards at Staples Center on March 26, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Yong Teck Lim/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
5 of 9
Next
(Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) – Los Angeles Lakers
(Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) – Los Angeles Lakers /

Pat Riley 

  • Years coached: 1981-1990
  • Record: 533-194
  • Playoff games: 149 (102-47)
  • 4 NBA Championships

The standard for which all former players who coach the Los Angeles Lakers are held to. Pat Riley took a long journey from a player, to a broadcaster, to an assistant coach, and finally to a head coach.

Riley was a journeyman guard that found himself playing for the winningest Lakers team in history when he was backing up Jerry West on the 1972 championship team. When he retired as a player in 1976, he transitioned to the booth and worked alongside the great Chick Hearn broadcasting Lakers games.

In 1980 when the Lakers lost their head coach, assistant Paul Westhead was elevated and Riley came down from the booth to be the assistant coach. The Lakers would win the NBA title that year and would do so again in 1982 with Riley at the helm.

Riley was elevated to head coach in late 1981 when Westhead fell out of favor with the players, especially star Magic Johnson. The Lakers would usher in the “Showtime Era” under Riley, elevating the fastbreak to a new art form.

With the Lakers, Riley would win four NBA titles and seven Western Conference titles. They also became a premiere attraction along with their rivals the Boston Celtics, elevating the NBA to new heights.

Home/Los Angeles Lakers