Pat Riley Statue Moment: He Wanted LeBron James in Miami

Merlin sees the Lakers honoring Pat Riley with a statue, the first coach in franchise history so remembered. At the ceremony Riley looked back on building Miami’s Big Three, saying it "was. I mean, four trips to the finals in a row, two world championships," and added, "I'm going to be selfish here and say I wish I had him for another 6-8 years." LeBron answered calmly that "It's human nature to look back" and noted he "wouldn't have [predicted I'd be playing] this game another 12 years either." Merlin smells both pride and rue. Riley imagined an 8 to 10 year dynasty; LeBron remembers great times and ripple effects that shaped his career. Legends often trade certainty for legacy. Keep an eye on how this moment colors Lakers lore and LeBron’s late-career choices.