Years ago, Armani Suits and slicked-back hair earned Pat Riley the moniker “The Godfather.” Over time, his unrelenting success as a master orchestrator of the NBA evolved the title from one of aesthetic to one of generational prestige and acumen. For 40 years, The Godfather has marched in conquest across the NBA as the league’s premier agent of winning and will. From the west coast to the east coast, and, most recently, down to South Beach, Riley has elevated each franchise he’s touched to new heights. When Magic Johnson demanded a trade from the Los Angeles Lakers because of disagreements with head coach, Paul Westhead, in 1981, Jerry Buss bet on Riley, previously an assistant, to replace Westhead and keep the star happy. Riley made more than good on that bet, coaching the timeless and finesse Showtime Lakers headlined by Johnson to four championships in seven tries and giving us some of the most beautiful basketball we’ve ever seen.
After his time in LA came to a close, Riley took his talents to the Big Apple. In a true display of adaptability, he led the physical and graceless New York Knicks of the early ‘90s to one of their only two finals appearances in the last 47 years. In 1995, he moved on from New York to become team President and on-again, off-again head coach of the Miami Heat. All of the franchise’s six Finals appearances have come under his dominion, with three of them bearing the fruits of championship banners hanging from the rafters at American Airlines Arena.
Pat Riley earned his moniker. He evolved it. And in these 2020 NBA Finals, LeBron James of the Los Angeles Lakers is taking it for his own.
A rich history between these two titans lies at the heart of this symbolic Finals matchup. LeBron James infamously signed with Miami back in 2010, joining forces with Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh to form the league’s first player-empowerment era Big 3. Pat Riley himself was the gravity that brought the core together. It was famously reported that he poured all nine of his championship rings on the table during his pitch to James to join the franchise. The move might not have been necessary. LeBron is no fool. He knew that where ever Pat Riley is, winning isn’t just possible—it’s expected. And that expectation was met. LeBron’s time in Miami was an objective success, producing back-to-back titles in 2012 and 2013 among four total trips in four years. However, the partnership between LeBron and the Heat ended dramatically following the team’s 2014 blowout Finals loss to the San Antonio Spurs when LeBron elected to return to the Cleveland Cavaliers as a free agent.
Amid rumors of LeBron’s exit and prior to his formal decision being made, Riley made some not-so-subtle remarks directed towards James in a press conference—“This stuff is hard” Pat said, “And you got to stay together, if you’ve got the guts…And you don’t find the first door and run out of it if you have an opportunity.” LeBron naturally took exception and the final meeting between the two, during which Riley gave his final pitch for James to stay, was reportedly ice cold. LeBron told Riley he wouldn’t be returning over the phone a few days later. Riley revealed in a 2019 ESPN interview with Dan Le Batard that the rejection left him seething and that he almost went full Dan Gilbert on LeBron in retaliation, but his better judgement led him up a higher road. The two reportedly have not spoken since. Riley knew that in losing LeBron, he was watching “a dynasty fly out the window.” What the Godfather didn’t realize, however, was that he spent the previous four years arming and preparing his successor to overthrow him.
LeBron James became a winner in Pat Riley’s own mold in Miami. He even considers his time there to be the college education he never had. He learned not only what it takes to become a champion, but what it takes to create one—a power that normally only lies in the hands of GM’s and team presidents. He is trusted with franchise-altering decisions that have kept him in positions to compete for titles year after year. If it was Riley’s gravitas that brought LeBron, Bosh, and, most recently, Jimmy Butler to Miami, then it was James’ that led Kevin Love and Anthony Davis to the Cavs and Lakers, respectively. If it was Riley’s understanding of team building that found diamonds in the rough like Duncan Robinson, Tyler Herro, Kendrick Nunn and Bam Adebayo, then it was LeBron’s sense of championship pedigree that demanded his Cavs and Lakers teams acquire the downtrodden likes of JR Smith, Rajon Rondo, and Dwight Howard. If “Heat Culture” is what keeps Miami in ruthless pursuit of championships, then it is LeBron Culture that lifted the Cavs to four straight finals appearances and their only title in franchise history, and which has the Los Angeles Lakers just two wins away from their 17th banner amid their first trip to the playoffs in seven years.
Wherever LeBron James goes, winning follows. We know he is the most dominant player of the last two decades. We know his intellect on the floor is second to none. Now, we need to acknowledge that he is the best off-the-court orchestrator in the game too; That if you trust this man to lead and make decisions for your franchise, winning isn’t just possible—it’s expected. LeBron brought this Laker team together just as much as Riley formed this Heat team. And as LeBron’s creation continues to dismantle Riley’s before our eyes, one thing is becoming very clear: The Godfather does not wear Armani Suits with slicked-back hair—He wears purple and gold.
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