Riley Finally Receives His Share of Credit

Lakers coach Pat Riley, the picture of consistency through nine seasons, once quipped, “I get a lot of credit for not getting enough credit.”

Riley, whose teams have won four NBA titles over eight seasons, finally has that elusive recognition after being named the league’s Coach of the Year. (Story, C1.)

It is his first Coach of the Year award.

Riley received 52 of 92 votes from a nationwide panel of sports writers and broadcasters--three from each league city and 11 members of the national media.

Riley, 45, has said that the reason he had never been honored was that the Lakers were considered too talented not to win.

“When I got the head coaching job in 1981, I was looked at as a lucky guy who just walked into a situation where I had talented players,” he said. “As the team continued to win, it was taken for granted.”

This year, however, the Lakers’ strong regular season has been followed by a lackluster playoffs. After eliminating Houston in four games in the first round, Los Angeles is on the verge of being bounced out by the Phoenix Suns.

The Lakers’ 114-101 loss Sunday gave the Suns a 3-1 edge in the best-of-7 series.

This season, Riley led his team to a 63-19 regular-season record, the best in the league, and a ninth consecutive Pacific Division title.

“He’s got to get a lot of credit for what we’ve done this year,” Lakers guard Byron Scott said. “Just because Kareem (Abdul-Jabbar) was gone, nobody expected us to do anything. But we finished first in our division, we have the best record in the league and we’re still playing the way the Lakers always play.”

Riley, named The Associated Press professional coach of the decade for the 1980s, has compiled unequalled numbers:

--His 102 playoff wins leads all NBA coaches.

--With a lifetime record of 533-194, he owns the highest regular-season winning percentage in NBA history, .733.

--In January, Riley became the 13th coach in NBA history to win 500 games. He did it in 684 games, fastest of any coach.

--He took the Lakers to the NBA Finals in each of his first four seasons, bringing home two titles.

--Under Riley, the Lakers have won at least 60 games five of the last six seasons. In 1987-88, they became the first NBA team to win 60 games in four consecutive seasons.

A former Lakers broadcaster who joined the team as an assistant to coach Paul Westhead in 1979, Riley replaced Westhead in November 1981. During a nine-year NBA career, Riley played for the San Diego Rockets, the Lakers and the Suns.

Philadelphia’s Jim Lynam was second with 14 1/2 votes, followed by Rick Adelman of Portland with 12 1/2.