[Link](https://twitter.com/sportscenter/status/1663554471199379461?s=46)
Now that the Heat have advanced, Pat Riley has been involved in 19 Finals, which is quarter of all Finals in the history of the NBA. 3 as a player on the Lakers and Suns in the 70s, 10 as coach (8 with the Showtime Lakers of the 80s, 1 with the Knicks in 1994, 1 with the Miami Heat in 2006), and 6 as an executive (all with the Heat: 4 in the Lebron era and now 2 in the Jimmy Butler era).
Absolutely insane stat. At what point does he overtake Phil or Auerbach as the GOAT coach/executive if he hasn’t already?
by 4ps22
26 Comments
he already has.
Goat coach is Pop imo
Riley/Spo is the one of the greatest GM/coach combo ever
Yeah. He is probably not the GOAT in any one category, but he is the overall GOAT.
Hard to find a more successful career in the sport of basketball at any level. Maybe Wooden, but even then that’s over a 12 year period and it was all as a coach.
Auerbach has a shot as a coach and executive, but I think Riley has eclipsed him.
Edit: Jerry West is a good option among the two. Jerry was the better player. Riley is the better coach and executive is pretty close. I think Riley has the edge because he has a championship in each category. More balanced. But West is a really good option.
Edit: for those mentioning Bird. He is a good option, but I don’t think he holds a candle to the Riley or West as either a coach or executive.
ESPN stealing David Aldridge’s tweet:
https://www.reddit.com/r/nba/comments/13oe5nf/aldridge_pat_riley_is_one_win_away_from_his_19th/
Lakers knicks heat. Just insane jobs he did everywhere
Can’t deny the guy is a legend and I hated him with every fiber of my being after 95. Just gotta tip my cap at this point.
Him and Jerry are tied at 19 if my math is correct. I would say both are honestly equal in GOAT NBA career overall. Larry Bird also won ROY, MVP, COY, and EOY.
Riley and West are monstrous legends in “versatility” and historically
He’s not the GOAT executive because Jerry west is, he’s not the GOAT coach because pop/PJ have that filled. But damn he’s overall one the best presences ever in the nba. One of the laker GOATS, the Heat GOAT and honestly with how shitty they’ve been one of the Knicks best executives
As an executive he’s easily on the same tier as Jerry West and Red. It’s impressive how’s he’s been able to build success wherever he lands
He almost got fired in 1985. He’s been around 38 more years. Good for him!
~~https://i.redd.it/72zjnitmtv2b1.jpg~~
redemption is back on the menu: https://i.redd.it/tlcnfsp6t1m51.png
let’s go spicy nuggets finals!
In Riley we trust
May the Riley be with you
aside from looking like de niro and wearing armani suits, does this guy actually have any recent ties to Italy?
I don’t know why I always forget he coached that Lakers dynasty in the 80’s. Man when him and Pop end up retiring we’re gonna lose two of the best to ever do it.
You know, despite winning a title as a Laker player and four as a Laker coach, I can’t help but think that he’s more of a Heat guy now. Dude’s been with the Heat for 28 years now and brought them their first title ever. That’s hard to ignore.
Just kinda sad one of the greatest Laker isn’t “ours,” so to speak. It’s like having a best friend who doesn’t consider you their best friend.
Maybe others disagree. I’ll admit that I wasn’t alive during the Showtime, which informs my judgment.
Finals don’t count unless you win them so
Holy fucking shit
Wut
Pat is a real mob boss
Yes
But 12 of those 17 come from Magic and LeBron. Similar with Phil.
Auerbach probably cant be beat in that sense. League too different. West is in there too.
He started playing in ‘67 and there have been 56 championships since then. He’s been a part of 1/3 of them. Pretty incredible.
No one man should have all that power
Makes me wonder if it would’ve been better if LeBron stayed in Miami?
Has his mouth always hung open like that?