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