Pat Riley Is an Original Sports Fashion Icon

Pat Riley Is an Original Sports Fashion Icon

By: Hardy Greene

As men’s fashion continues to develop, we see style and sport grow closer and closer. Between the NBA, NFL, MLB, and NHL, athletes are able to display their style off the field, court, or rink and set trends within the fashion world. Though this may be growing more common, it is nothing new; the “Godfather of the NBA,” Pat Riley, has been showing the NBA how to dress since his coaching career started in the late 1970s.

Riley’s head coaching career spanned 27 legendary years. Over these years, he was able to win five NBA Finals and three NBA Coach of the Year honors. While he is most notable for his success as the coach of the Los Angeles Lakers and Miami Heat, he has also become known as a style icon through his friendship with Giorgio Armani. 

This friendship developed throughout the early 1980s as both men began to reach the highest echelon of their professions. In 1982, Riley would win his first NBA Finals as a head coach, the same year Armani appeared on the cover of Time Magazine. This friendship led to innumerable perfectly tailored Armani suits donned by Riley on the court during his best years. This high-end style even led to a nickname bestowed by his players: GQ.

As Riley and the Lakers continued to win, his style continued to become more refined. He remained in the same traditional Italian, high-waisted silhouette as he experimented with colors and materials, all of which came from Armani.

Riley’s basketball legacy remains years after his coaching career has ended, and the legend of his style only continues to grow. Menswear trends are cycling at a rate faster than ever, further cementing Riley’s tasteful and traditional style as timeless.

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