Pat Riley always thankful that Jerry Buss said 'yes' to him - Los Angeles Times
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Pat Riley always thankful that Jerry Buss said ‘yes’ to him

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Former Lakers Coach and Miami Heat President Pat Riley reminisced about the late Jerry Buss on Thursday before he spoke at Buss’ memorial service.

“It’s just a forever and for-always relationship,” Riley said. “I just think he was an incredible person.”

Riley worked for the Lakers before Buss purchased the team, both as a player and broadcaster.

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“It was a new paradigm -- a new Laker paradigm -- when [Buss] showed up and bought the team 1979-1980,” Riley said. “He just brought the best in everybody. He gave me an incredible opportunity. He encouraged me to do a lot of different things and we had a lot of good times together.”

Riley, an assistant coach at the time, wasn’t initially chosen to be the head coach after the Lakers fired Paul Westhead early into the 1981-82 season.

“Jerry West was supposed to be the head coach, and Jerry said he didn’t want it,” Riley said. “I said, ‘Well if nobody wants it, I’ll take it.’”

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“It was all on an interim basis for a while,” he continued. “[Buss] made Jerry go down on the bench with me for about three weeks to make sure I didn’t blow this $100-million asset. We won like 12 games in a row or something like that, and here I am today.”

Riley is forever grateful that Buss took a chance on him.

“I got a great opportunity when Jerry West asked him, can Pat take over -- he said yes,” Riley said. “He said yes to me, and I’m always thankful for that.”

Riley would go on to win four titles as head coach with the Lakers -- five including his 2006 championship with the Heat.

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“[Buss] really let all of us know if there’s an opportunity out there and you’ve got it -- don’t blow it,” Riley said.

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Email Eric Pincus at [email protected] and follow him on Twitter @EricPincus.

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