| Last Sunday, Pat Riley became the third coach in | | | | coach and started the amazing career in the NBA. |
| NBA history to collect 1,200 regular season victories | | | | Until now, Riley's records include leading the L.A. |
| joining Lenny Wilkens and Don Nelson from the | | | | Lakers to four NBA championships between 1982 and |
| Golden State he only needed 1,842 games to reach | | | | 1988 and the heat to one in 2006. He and Nelson are |
| the popular milestone only 248 games less than | | | | only behind Lenny Wilkens who leads the most |
| Nelson. | | | | regular season coaching wins all time with 1332 |
| Riley is worthy of the recognition due to his | | | | victories. Last Sunday, Pat brought the Miami Heat |
| successful career as coach, the most recent Riley's | | | | into Staples Center with a five game losing streak. |
| achieve was the 2006 NBA Championship with the | | | | The team definitely has not given him much to smile |
| Miami Heat. Prior to his tenure in Miami, he served as | | | | about this season. However, Riley reaching the |
| head coach for the Los Angeles Lakers and the New | | | | milestone to inscribe his name into the NBA records |
| York Knicks. He also played for the Los Angeles | | | | book. |
| Lakers' championship team in 1972, which brings his | | | | In addition to Pat Riley's recognition, other records |
| personal total to seven NBA titles. | | | | were also imposed last Sunday; Dwayne Wade |
| Before becoming an exceptional coach, Riley was a | | | | actually scored a season high 35 points and dished |
| versatile athlete in college, participating in both | | | | out 10 assists to lead the Miami Heat over the L.A |
| basketball and football; he was selected by the San | | | | Clippers, in a 100 to 94 victory at the Staples Center, |
| Diego Rockets in 1967 NBA draft, and was also | | | | record that helped improve his coach's disposition. In |
| drafted as a flanker by the Dallas Cowboys in the | | | | regards to the award, Riley added: "It's great to get |
| 11th round of the 1967 NFL Draft. He joined the | | | | this win...It's those kinds of moments that you'll |
| Rockets and later signed with the Lakers. However, | | | | always remember, good and bad." Hopefully, to reach |
| he has a low profile career as a player and it wasn't | | | | this record will be as an inspiration for the team to |
| until 1981-1982 season when he turned into a head | | | | follow his coach example. |