Lakers News: Pat Riley Thinks LA’s 'Got a Shot' to Win a Title This Year
Pat Riley knows a thing or two about championships. The longtime NBA player, coach and executive has won his fair share of rings over the course of his long career.
As a player, Riley won one title with the Los Angeles Lakers in 1972. As an assistant coach, Riley won one title, also with the Lakers in 1980. Then, as a head coach, Riley won five championships — four with the Lakers and one with the Miami Heat. And finally, as an executive, Riley has won two more championships, both with the Heat.
When Riley won those final two titles with the Heat, his best player was current Lakers superstar LeBron James. So Riley not only knows a lot about titles, he also knows a lot about James.
That's why, before LeBron broke the NBA scoring record, Riley caught up with ESPN's Ramona Shelbourne. While much of the conversation was about LeBron, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and the NBA's true GOAT, Riley also spoke about the Lakers' chances of winning the title this year. Surprisingly, even before the trade deadline, he thought they had a good shot.
"He wants to win titles," Riley said about LeBron. "That’s what drives him. And so for him to continue to play at this level, with that hope that this team is going to come together out there and Anthony Davis gets back, I think they got a shot. I really do. And I believe he believes that too."
The Lakers chances have only improved since the deadline. They currently sit at 27-32 and as the No. 13 seed in the West. However, they ended the first-half of the season with a convincing wire-to-wire victory over the New Orleans Pelicans in their first game with a full roster and new-look lineup.
The Lakers are going to have to be really good over their final 23 games to make the playoffs. But if Riley thinks they have a shot, Laker fans should have a bit more confidence heading into the final stretch.
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