Pat Riley may be known as the team president of the Miami Heat, but the beloved NBA icon built his legacy as the sideline tactician for the Los Angeles Lakers in the 1980s. The Showtime Lakers were in full swing. The Purple and Gold won 73% of their games with Riley on the sideline.
Aside from maximizing the talents of Magic Johnson and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Riley was also known for his signature aesthetic. His slick hair and sharp suits were a fixture on the Lakers sidelines and were as much a part of the Showtime Lakers' identity as their high-paced, pass-first play.
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When the Lakers immortalized Riley's contribution to the team by unveiling his statue on Crypto.com Arena's Star Plaza, the former Lakers head coach and current Miami Heat team president shared his thoughts on recent NBA coaching trends.
Pat Riley's Comments on Coach Outfits Gain Reaction From Fans
During the ceremony, Riley felt that head coaches have gotten too relaxed with how they present themselves to the public.
He revealed that he wishes suits and ties would become a thing among head coaches again. "I think when fans look over at the sidelines, they want to see someone that looks like a leader," he explained, per ESPN's Ramona Shelburne.
Fans shared their reaction to the NBA legend's take.
A basketball fan was in full agreement with the former coach before making a connection with another sport. "I agree," they commented. "I feel the same in baseball, too. Managers should wear a suit, not a baseball uniform."
Another commenter disagreed with Riley's take, saying that leadership doesn't have to be presented with clothing. "Times are (and have) changed and you don't need a suit to be a leader," they reasoned. "If anything, the younger generation (now, more than ever) feel like they can't connect or relate to old dudes in suits."
One fan saw the bigger picture and made a scathing commentary on society. "We've lowered our standards and expectations on so many things in society," they wrote.
Another directly questioned why this wasn't implemented on Riley's current team. "What's stopping the heat from implementing this rule themselves first?" they asked.
A follower couldn't care less about this nitpick from the Laker great. "I'm a huge NBA fan and I don't care what coaches wear," they wrote.
Finally, another NBA follower took the high road when he disagreed with the longtime coach. "Respectfully disagree with the Godfather," they said. "Seeing guys' pit stains wasn't a good look, however infrequent."