When you consider everything he has achieved as a player, coach, and executive, it makes sense why so many people believe Pat Riley has had one of the most impressive careers in NBA history. He has found a way to win at every level and continues to find himself in a position to win – even at 78 years old.
It all started in 1967 when the San Diego Rockets drafted him with the No. 7 overall pick – he was also drafted by the Dallas Cowboys of the NFL, but chose basketball. He spent the next 10 seasons with the Rockets, Lakers, and Suns before deciding to retire in 1976. He played in 528 games in his career.
After spending two years as a broadcaster for the Lakers, Riley was hired as an assistant coach for the team and eventually took over as head coach. He coached the Lakers for nine seasons, the New York Knicks for four seasons, and the Miami Heat for 11 seasons – he’s the current team president of the Heat.
Pat Riley and His Impressive NBA Finals History
If there’s one thing Pat Riley knows how to do, it’s getting to the NBA Finals. Only a few players, coaches, and executives have appeared on the NBA’s biggest stage as much as he has, putting him in an elite category among basketball legends. His will to win is unmatched and it’s why he does so time and again.
Since entering the league as a player in 1967, Pat Riley has made 19 NBA Finals appearances as a player, coach, and executive. It all started with a championship win as a point guard for the Lakers in 1972 and recently continued as he watched his Heat lose to the Denver Nuggets in the 2023 NBA Finals.
As of today, his 19 Finals appearances is tied with legendary coach/executive Red Auerbach – but nowhere near the all-time leader in Finals appearances, which goes to Jerry West (30 appearances). To honor Pat Riley and his legendary career, let’s take a look back at each of his NBA Finals appearances.
1. 1972 NBA Finals w/ Los Angeles Lakers
Pat Riley was the backup point guard for the Los Angeles Lakers when they beat the New York Knicks 4-1 in the 1972 NBA Finals – his first NBA Finals appearance and first NBA championship. He came off the bench and averaged 5.0 points, 1.8 rebounds, and 0.8 assists in 16.2 minutes per game (5 games).
The Lakers were led by Gail Goodrich (25.6 points), Jerry West (19.8 points, 8.8 assists), and Wilt Chamberlain (19.4 points, 23.2 rebounds). They got blown out by 22 points in Game 1, but went on to win the next four games to capture the franchise’s sixth title – their first title since winning it in 1954.
2. 1973 NBA Finals w/ Los Angeles Lakers
Pat Riley was a point guard for the Los Angeles Lakers when they lost to the New York Knicks 1-4 in the 1973 NBA Finals – his second NBA Finals appearance and first loss. He only played in one game and only played one minute in that game. He had a much bigger role on the team during the regular season.
The Lakers were led by Gail Goodrich (21.8 points), Jim MicMillian (21.6 points), and Jerry West (21.4 points), while Wilt Chamberlain added 11.6 points and 18.6 rebounds. The Lakers beat the Knicks by three points in Game 1, but lost the next four games and allowed New York to get their revenge on LA.
3. 1976 NBA Finals w/ Phoenix Suns
Pat Riley was a point guard for the Phoenix Suns when they lost to the Boston Celtics 2-4 in the 1976 NBA Finals – his third NBA Finals appearance and second loss. Much like his last appearance, he only played in one game and only played one minute in that game. It was also his last season before retiring.
The Suns were led by Alvan Adams (23.0 points, 10.2 rebounds) and Paul Westphal (20.8 points), while Ricky Sobers, Gar Heard, and Curtis Perry each had more than 13.0 points per game. The Celtics won the first two games and the Suns answered to tie it up 2-2, but the Celtics closed it out in six games.
4. 1980 NBA Finals w/ Los Angeles Lakers
Pat Riley was an assistant coach for the Los Angeles Lakers when they defeated the Philadelphia 76ers 4-2 in the 1980 NBA Finals – his fourth NBA Finals appearance and second NBA title. He transitioned to broadcasting after retiring, but was thrust into an assistant coaching role after the head coach got injured.
LA was led by Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (33.4 points, 13.6 rebounds, 4.6 blocks), Magic Johnson (21.5 points, 11.2 rebounds, 8.7 assists), and Jamaal Wilkes (21.3 points, 7.7 rebounds). The series was tied 2-2, but the Lakers won Game 5 behind Kareem’s 40 points and won Game 6 behind Magic’s 42 points.
5. 1982 NBA Finals w/ Los Angeles Lakers
Pat Riley was the head coach of the Los Angeles Lakers when they defeated the Philadelphia 76ers 4-2 in the 1982 NBA Finals – his fifth NBA Finals appearance and third NBA title. He was named head coach earlier in the year after Magic Johnson got into a verbal altercation with then-coach, Paul Westhead.
The Lakers didn’t have anyone average more than 20 points per game, but they had six players average at least 13 points per game – led by Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (18.0 points) and Jamaal Wilkes (19.7 points). The Lakers took a 3-1 series lead before dropping Game 5, but won by 10 points in Game 6.
6. 1983 NBA Finals w/ Los Angeles Lakers
Pat Riley was still the head coach of the Los Angeles Lakers when they got swept by the Philadelphia 76ers 4-0 in the 1983 NBA Finals – his sixth NBA Finals appearance and third Finals loss. The Lakers had a similar roster as in 1982, while the 76ers’ addition of Moses Malone proved to be the difference.
The Lakers were led by Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (23.5 points), Magic Johnson (19.0 points, 7.8 rebounds, 12.5 assists), and Jamaal Wilkes (18.5 points). Meanwhile, Malone led all scorers and rebounders in the first three games of the series and led all rebounders in Game 4 – he was unstoppable.
7. 1984 NBA Finals w/ Los Angeles Lakers
Pat Riley was still the head coach of the Los Angeles Lakers when they lost to the Boston Celtics 4-3 in the 1984 NBA Finals – his seventh NBA Finals appearance and fourth Finals loss. The Lakers had a similar roster, but added rookie Byron Scott in a trade that sent Norm Nixon to the San Diego Clippers.
The Lakers were led by Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (26.6 points), James Worthy (22.1 points), and Magic Johnson (18.0 points, 7.7 rebounds, 13.6 assists). The Lakers and Celtics were tied 3-3 after LA got a much-needed win in Game 6, but it wasn’t enough to overcome a nine-point loss to Boston in Game 7.
8. 1985 NBA Finals w/ Los Angeles Lakers
Pat Riley was still the head coach of the Los Angeles Lakers when they defeated the Boston Celtics 4-2 in the 1985 NBA Finals – his eighth NBA Finals appearance and fourth Finals win (second as head coach). The Lakers earned their second title and fourth NBA Finals appearance in the past four years.
LA was led by Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (25.7 points, 9.0 rebounds), James Worthy (23.7 points), and Magic Johnson (18.3 points, 6.8 rebounds, 14.0 assists). The Lakers lost Game 1, but won the next two to take a 2-1 series lead. After allowing Boston to tie it up, the Lakers took Games 5 and 6 to win it all.
9. 1987 NBA Finals w/ Los Angeles Lakers
Pat Riley was still the head coach of the Los Angeles Lakers when they defeated the Boston Celtics 4-2 in the 1987 NBA Finals – his ninth NBA Finals appearance and fifth NBA title (third as a head coach). The addition of Mychal Thompson midway through the season proved to be a smart move by Los Angeles.
The Lakers were led by Magic Johnson (26.2 points, 8.0 rebounds, 13.0 assists), James Worthy (20.7 points), and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (21.7 points, 7.3 rebounds). LA had a 2-0 series lead and 3-1 series lead, but failed to close it out in Game 5. They came back in Game 6 to finish what they started.
10. 1988 NBA Finals w/ Los Angeles Lakers
Pat Riley was still the head coach of the Los Angeles Lakers when they defeated the Detroit Pistons 4-3 in the 1988 NBA Finals – his 10th NBA Finals appearance and sixth NBA title (fourth as a head coach). The win comes 12 months after Riley guaranteed a win in the 1988 Finals at their 1987 title parade.
The Lakers were led by James Worthy (22.0 points), Magic Johnson (21.1 points, 5.7 rebounds, 13.0 assists), and Byron Scott (18.9 points) – Kareem Abdul-Jabbar started all seven games, but only averaged 13.1 points per game. The Lakers were down 2-3 in the series before winning Games 6 and 7.
11. 1989 NBA Finals w/ Los Angeles Lakers
Pat Riley was still the head coach of the Los Angeles Lakers when they got swept by the Detroit Pistons 0-4 in the 1989 NBA Finals – his 11th NBA Finals appearance and fifth Finals loss. They would’ve put up more of a fight if they didn’t lose Magic Johnson to a hamstring injury in the third quarter of Game 2.
The Lakers were led by James Worthy (25.5 points), while Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Michael Cooper, Tony Campbell, and Mychal Thompson each averaged at least 10.0 points per game. They kept Games 2 and 3 within four points, but the Pistons’ duo of Isiah Thomas and Joe Dumars was too much.
12. 1994 NBA Finals w/ New York Knicks
Pat Riley was the head coach of the New York Knicks when they lost to the Houston Rockets 4-3 in the 1994 NBA Finals – his 12th NBA Finals appearance and sixth Finals loss. He had left the Lakers following the 1989-90 season and was in his third year with the Knicks when he led them to the biggest stage.
The Knicks were led by Patrick Ewing (18.9 points, 12.4 rebounds), John Starks (17.7 points), Derek Harper (16.4 points), and Charles Oakley (11.0 points, 11.9 rebounds). They had a 3-2 series lead after five games, but the Rockets managed to win Games 6 and 7 by two points and six points, respectively.
13. 2006 NBA Finals w/ Miami Heat
Pat Riley was the head coach of the Miami Heat when they beat the Dallas Mavericks 4-2 in the 2006 NBA Finals – his 13th NBA Finals appearance and seventh NBA title (fifth as a head coach). He joined the Heat in 1995 and had missed the playoffs the previous two years, but things were different in 2006.
The Mavericks got off to a quick start, winning the first two games of the series to take an early 2-0 lead, but the Heat – led by Dwyane Wade and Shaquille O’Neal – settled things down and won the next four games. It wound up being the start of the dynasty he has built in Miami over the past three decades.
14. 2011 NBA Finals w/ Miami Heat
Pat Riley was the president of the Miami Heat when they lost to the Dallas Mavericks 2-4 in the 2011 NBA Finals – his 14th NBA Finals appearance and seventh Finals loss. Riley was responsible for bringing LeBron James and Chris Bosh to the Heat, joining their friend Dwyane Wade and forming a ‘big three.’
James only averaged 17.8 points per game, while Wade led the team with 26.5 points and Bosh added 18.5 points per game. The Miami Heat won Game 1 and got off to a 2-1 series start against the Mavs, but lost Games 4, 5, and 6 as Dirk Nowitzki and Jason Terry proved to be too much for the Heat’s defense.
15. 2012 NBA Finals w/ Miami Heat
Pat Riley was still the president of the Miami Heat when they defeated the Oklahoma City Thunder 4-1 in the 2012 NBA Finals – his 15th NBA Finals appearance and eighth NBA title (second as team president). His decision to bring LeBron James, Chris Bosh, and Dwyane Wade together finally paid off in 2012.
The Heat were led by James (28.6 points, 10.2 rebounds, 7.4 assists) and Wade (22.6 points, 6.0 rebounds, 5.2 assists), while Bosh added 14.6 points and 9.4 rebounds per game. The Thunder won Game 1 by 11 points, but the Heat won the next four games, including a 15-point victory in Game 5.
16. 2013 NBA Finals w/ Miami Heat
Pat Riley was still the president of the Miami Heat when they defeated the San Antonio Spurs 4-3 in the 2013 NBA Finals – his 16th NBA Finals appearance and ninth NBA title (third as team president). It was his third straight trip to the Finals and second straight win as the Heat proved to be the team to beat.
The Heat were led by LeBron James (25.3 points, 10.9 rebounds, 7.0 assists) and Dwyane Wade (19.6 points), while Chris Bosh, Ray Allen, and Mario Chalmers each had at least 10 points per game. The Spurs had a 3-2 series lead after winning Game 5, but the Miami Heat came up clutch in Games 6 and 7.
17. 2014 NBA Finals w/ Miami Heat
Pat Riley was still the president of the Miami Heat when they lost to the San Antonio Spurs 1-4 in the 2014 NBA Finals – his 17th NBA Finals appearance and eighth Finals loss. It was the final year for LeBron James in Miami before he headed back to Cleveland, ending an important era in Heat history.
The Heat were led by James (28.2 points, 7.8 rebounds, 4.0 assists), while Dwyane Wade added 15.2 points per game and Chris Bosh chipped in another 14.0 points per game. They dropped Game 1, but won a thrilling Game 2 to tie it up at 1-1. Unfortunately, they lost the next three games and lost the series.
18. 2020 NBA Finals w/ Miami Heat
Pat Riley was still the president of the Miami Heat when they lost to the Los Angeles Lakers 2-4 in the 2020 NBA Finals – his 18th NBA Finals appearance and ninth Finals loss. No one expected the Heat to make it to the Finals, but they defied the odds and came within two wins of a fourth championship.
The Heat were led by Jimmy Butler (26.2 points, 8.3 rebounds, 9.8 assists, 2.2 steals), but they also got help from Bam Adebayo (15.3 points) and Tyler Herro (14.7 points). They found themselves down 2-0, but won Game 3 to keep themselves in. They won Game 5 to extend the series, but lost the series in six.
19. 2023 NBA Finals w/ Miami Heat
Pat Riley was still the president of the Miami Heat when they lost to the Denver Nuggets 1-4 in the 2023 NBA Finals – his 19th NBA Finals appearance and 10th Finals loss. The Heat were a No. 8 seed and had already defeated the No. 1, No. 2, and No. 5 seed in the East, but couldn’t move past the Nuggets.
The Heat were led by Bam Adebayo (21.8 points, 12.4 rebounds) and Jimmy Butler (21.6 points, 6.4 assists), while Gabe Vincent and Kyle Lowry each averaged at least 10.0 points per game. They swapped Games 1 and 2 in Denver, but lost the next three games as they struggled to stop Nikola Jokic.
What’s Next for Pat Riley and the Miami Heat?
Pat Riley always seems to have the Miami Heat in contention for a title. While he hasn’t won since 2013, he continues to defy the odds and prove the naysayers wrong with rosters that might not boast the best talent, but boast the biggest hearts and the biggest wills to win. And that’s exactly what they do – win.
With that said, it appears as if Pat Riley is planning to do some wheelin’ and dealin’ this offseason as the team looks to make another title run next year. He has already vowed to focus his efforts on signing or trading for another star to work alongside Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo. Things are going to change.
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That likely means the Heat will look a lot different next year and they might be looking at moving some of their depth players in lieu of All-Star talent. It’s unclear who they’re targeting and who they’re willing to move, but they certainly have a full roster of players that other teams would love to have on their roster.
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