Pat Riley on if he would wear an Armani suit on the sidelines if he was still coaching today: “I never change much… I wish they went back to coats and ties. I think an audience wants to see somebody on the sideline who looks like a leader…”
I mean it did look cooler when they wore suits
You know the game was on the line when they took their jacket off too
With the pit sweat and all
Why can’t we have 5 foot 5 coaches desperately grabbing on to ankles of 7 foot tall players anymore
maybe we do need to make america great again
Maybe watch some Euroleague 😅
Wait what? Is there context that I’m missing here?
Jeff Van Gundy. Knicks vs Heat, late 90’s.
Jeff Van Gundy, Knicks vs Heat, in the dining room.
With the candlestick
I think it’s cool to see new/younger fans discover iconic moments in nba history for the first time. Did you go look it up?
About to look it up now! I got into basketball in 2004/7SOL Suns when I was 8 years old, so I don’t know specific events from the NBA 90’s besides the 92⁄93 championship between Suns and Bulls.
First basketball fan of my whole family, and now it’s my family’s favorite sport to watch :)
You should have a good laugh
Enjoy https://youtu.be/uoTTCeLhLDA?si=qTQ5r6Am5KV3tylM
We used to be a proper country
I watched the Sixers coach from a game in the 60’s or 70’s and he had a lit cigarette in both hands
Hubie Brown sweats profusely
Only showboating college coaches did that
Damn right. Jerry Sloan kept his jacket on when he tried to fight Rasheed Wallace and Dennis Rodman. Business is business.
Modern men don’t appreciate proper tailoring.
Sean Miller, the sweatiest coach of all time.
When the Bulls hired Tim Floyd as Phil Jackson’s replacement, the local media would say things like this isn’t Iowa State. You can’t just be taking off your jacket and yelling at your players like their kids.
Man and when they rolled up their sleeves? Get the fines out
It was theatrical, and I do miss it
We all need our little rituals
This. Too many people forget this is supposed to be entertainment, and sometimes that means wearing the right costume to play up the drama.
Chuck Daly used to go through a suit a game lol
But the hair stayed perfect
It looked way better.
Probably. But also no one gives a shit. No one is basing their fandom on what the coach wears
Who said anything about that? Pageantry has always been part of professional sports, and wearing suits on the sideline is an acknowledgment of and engagement in that pageantry. Basically every culture around the word has developed formal and/or ceremonial wear to signify participation in meaningful events. If everyone took your dismissive attitude the world would get incrementally shittier as people stripped things down to the barebones of necessity.
I’m more a fan of how baseball managers wear uniforms and vote all sports follow. NBA coaches in tanktops and nfl coaches in full pads.
60 years old NHL coaches walking behind the bench on skates is where it’s at.
Vrabel and Campbell in full pads sounds like a recipe for disaster, in a good way
Get me Stan Van Gundy on the sideline in a jersey and some tight shorts
Now we’re talking
Beautifully articulated
Yeah, it’s like mascots of teams. No one really gives a shit about them, and if they went away I’m sure most people wouldn’t care. But it’s fun and part of the charm of sports. Same with cheerleaders. Football or basketball wouldn’t be any different at all without them (soccer is the most popular sport and has neither cheerleaders nor mascots), but part of American pageantry in sports is having fit, attractive women dancing in skimpy clothing on the sidelines so the concept stays.
Soccer does have mascots. Both the furry kind and the kids who walk the players into the pitch.
What about the gay Republican demographic?
They’re never gonna get into something that involves black people
Actually, they’re pretty big fans of ownership
No one in my life would accuse me of caring about fashion, but suits are cool. It’s a good look. Every man feels good in a suit.
Aren’t they still allowed to wear suits? I don’t think the dress code forces them to dress in casual attire, they all just choose too.
JJ reddick talked about wanting to do the suit thing last year but the rule is the coaching staff all have to wear matching fits, and everybody else wanted to do the athletic leisure clothing
That’s such a lame rule
I can get it for the assistant coaches but it doesn’t make for good presentation when the head coach and the assistants are all wearing the exact same thing. The head coach’s fit should look different, even if it’s something dumb like their leisure clothing being a different color
Agreed. Most top soccer leagues do this, and I think it looks/feels the coolest. Obviously there are exceptions, but all the assistants are in their full personalized training gear, and then the manager is usually dressed to the nines.
When Conte managed Spurs, seeing him in his sharp Italian suits was a stark contrast to some of the managers just chilling in tracksuits and a cap lmao
So coaches can only wear suits if the entire coaching staff agrees to wear suits?
I think they vote and it is majority rule. it wouldn’t make sense though if JJ busts out in Tom Ford and such and then Kerr is in nike slides and an athletic tee. it would def write unnecessary narratives. one band one sound.
The NBA media world is already built on ridiculous narratives. Give me some juicy suits vs Nike tees drama.
Shirts vs. Skins coaching staffs!
I, for one, would like to see “sells weed in Tampa” Steve Kerr. Maybe he has a bearded dragon on a leash with him on the sidelines or a tarantula in a little plastic habitat that he sets his whiteboard on.
Naw I meant the coaching staff for a given team. The Lakers coaches have to vote to wear suits, and if they do, that doesn’t affect the Warriors coaching staff
Suits don’t sell merch for Nike
Didn’t they say exactly this when NFL coaches tried to bring back suits a few years ago? You can’t put sponsorships on a suit
This is actually the reason for Belichick’s famous cut-off hoodie look. He wanted to wear a suit and tie like Paul Brown and Tom Landry, but the NFL wants them wearing the branded merch, so he complies in the dumpiest way possible as an FU to the league.
This is often repeated, and not only is it wrong, but his explanation for why he decided to start dressing the way he did is the exact opposite of what you and others are trying to preach about suits. The actual story (which you can read here) is that he didn’t want to wear the mandated Reebok attire the NFL told him to. So as a form of protest, he made sure to pick the grungiest, most unstylish thing possible. Why? Because some business executive in New York shouldn’t be telling other grown men what to wear. A lesson we frankly all should take to heart.
The idea he wanted to wear a suit would be immediately obvious as complete fiction when he wasn’t wearing them in the 90’s with the Browns when it was totally fine by the NFL for coaches to do just that.
Yes, Mike Nolan with the 49ers wanted to do that but the NFL mandates the coaches had to wear licensed apparel on the sideline .
That’s such a dumb rule
Wow, I hate that. I coach at the HS & JH level and while I don’t wear a full Armani suit, I do still wear dress pants, button up, tie, and dress shoes but I have zero issue with any assistant who wants to wear team attire like 1⁄4 zip, team polo, sweats, etc…it’s not a fashion show and I’m certainly not going to dictate what the assistants have to wear.
Unbelievable… What if they break the code and wear a suit, is it just a fine then? Any other industry where a head of a department is earning seven figures their attire would be elegant at least.
So it can happen with the right coach. Just that no coaching staff has yet to agree on it.
Also the rule makes sense a mix of suits and at leisure would look like a mess on the sidelines.
I don’t really see an issue with just the head coach dressing differently if all the assistants are dressed in Nike or whatever. If anything, the assistants would blend that much more into the background.
Not true. They have to be in matching team gear
Weird, cause players injured but on the bench seem to wear whatever. Jokic and Val put on a fashion show while CB and Cam dress like B-boys
Nah make them wear uniforms like baseball managers
What would be worse? Seeing a coach in the 80s short shorts or the 2000s shin length
nephews in here pretending like they stopped wearing suits 20 years ago and not 5-6
It did but can you imagine sweating and walking around here and there in a suit during games…
They could at least have their own drip instead of every staff member dress the same nike tech
Not hard to imagine. Because they literally did it.
Soccer coaches wear suits in the rain.
*laughs in vincent kompany*
not anymore. it’s optional if soccer managers want to wear suits or team apparel/“track suit”
For the amount of money they make, I think they can deal with being a little sweaty. Idk.
Coaches probably knew about dry cleaning spots in each city.
Yeah call me old fashioned but I like the look of suits on coaches
I do really like the classic look of coaches in suits on the sideline, but I get that’s a pain in the ass. I think they should have the option, but if it were me I’d probably be in athleisure clothes too.
I’m pretty sure they do have the option, they just don’t want to wear suits. I’m reading an article from the bubble and coaches seem to strongly prefer more comfortable attire, unsurprisingly.
“I love it.” - Michael Malone
“I can speak for our coaching staff — we’ve enjoyed it.” - Erik Spoelstra
“Ask all coaches, what we’re dressing in is pretty comfortable.” - Billy Donovan
“I don’t know why we still wear suits. Somebody, please, tell me why we do that.” - Pop, quoted from the 2019 FIBA World Cup in China
They don’t have the option. When JJ Redick started coaching he tried to wear suits and the league told him no.
Redick said that he wanted to, but the whole coaching staff would have had to do it, and his assistant coaches refused.
Yeah I remember this was the distinction post bubble. You can go either way but your entire staff had to be alignedz
Adam Silver sucks man
Robbing us of suit and tie on the top half, tearaways on the bottom half 😡
That’s so fucking stupid
Yup. Nike pays the NBA a fortune to do all the gear. Armani and Brioni don’t pay squat, so no suits.
I guess Nike just has to get into tailoring
Reebok made a suit for Mike Nolan.
I think the decision was whatever the coach does everyone has to do. So if he decides suits, it’s suits all the way down with the assistants, offensive strategists etc
Never knew this but makes sense - he dressed so well throughout his media career, I totally thought he’d suit up courtside!
I mean if you’re gonna pay me millions to play a game… putting on a suit is nothing lol
Even the best suit with the most broken in dress shoes are going to be at least a little uncomfortable if you’re an active coach under arena lights.
A suit really isn’t much more difficult than anything else
I find a tailored suit comfy af. It’s the dress shoes that suck.
True, but I bet they could get some black sneakers
I’m sure it would get annoying on a 1-2 week road trip
Yeah, I’m not gonna judge b/c lord knows I’d go with the comfort fit clothes but dammit the Winter Olympic hockey coaches looked pretty darn cool in their suits [same with soccer coaches].
Obviously not NBA but coached some kids and teens Basketball years ago..
Can’t imagine standing on the sides in a suit and moving around comfortably even at that level let alone NBA. Athleisure/track pants & top all the way - although maybe different for a finals
Coaches should wear shorts and jerseys like baseball managers wear baseball uniforms
Thinking of Pop wearing those baggy 2000s jerseys. I like this
Lmao id fucking die him in his monotone face chilling in some baggy ass shorts
I didnt know Juggalo Pop is something I needed to see at least 1 time before he dies, but here we are.
Whoop whoop
But still wear oxfords so you don’t confuse them with the other players.
But also a fedora with safari flaps in the back
Oh my God. Did you see JJ’s hat? It’s so fucking stupid, I can’t breathe.
What the hell?
I even saw two cubes in his pocket. I think he has dice, but he’s afraid to show them to anyone.
Random factoid, but baseball managers/coaches wear uniforms because they’re allowed on the field during play so it’s a requirement.
I think they should wear pajamas to show their leadership and confidence
I dont think they should wear clothes. Full transparency let’s see what they’re really made of
NBA too scared to do that while Thibs was still in the league. Didn’t want to show the world what a real man looked like.
“You think I don’t know what this combover looks like when I come out of a shower? You know who never even notices it? Your girl.”
Ass-less chaps
You want to really stand out? Wear nothing but an advertising sandwich board.
All offense, no defense.
Only SpongeBob, Pokémon, or smiley faces allowed.
Galaxy cats for the playoffs
Id wear a suit for big games/playoffs but im in the minority
I love this idea. Especially for the Finals
Forget suits, let’s start with getting the uniforms right in the finals. Get rid of all the dumb alternates.
I’d wear a suit so often there would be viral posts spotting me in regular clothes
Very specifically I’d rock a bow tie
In soccer, this is somewhat a normal behavior, but a lot of coaches have moved away from that now.
Barca Pep and Chelsea Mourinho used to rock those extremely well.
In (UK) football, it’s traditional for the manager and the players (as they arrive) to wear a suit for cup finals.
It’s good, it shows that we’re on a different level now.
“You could put a murderer in a suit, and he’d still be a murderer.”
Yeah, but a good looking one. Not a Star Trek fleet coach in pajama
This descriptor for the current coach attire is perfect.
I wouldn’t give two fucks about what the coach wears lol
Hilarious he thinks the audience cares a single fuck about a coach looking professional.
A lot of us care but we’re old unfortunately.
I’m nearly 50 mate but couldn’t give a shit how a coach presents. It doesn’t affect my enjoyment of the game in the slightest. The game has much bigger issues than coach attire - gambling, reffing etc.
Even if they’re nude?
Notice the flair
Yes
Idgaf. Im not watching for the coaches.
Yeah we’re here for the refs
And those refs should be wearing suits.
Scott Foster has been having a tremendous season, I don’t think anyone can catch him at this point. Dude is 1 of 1.
It should be the coaches choice. In football, some wear tracksuits, some wear business casual, and some go full suit.
It already is the coach’s choice. It never wasn’t their choice since the change. They all just choose to wear business casual instead.
In American football? What coaches wear full suits ?
Football, futbol…. Soccer. That one.
I remember a time when they could only wear suits for eight games a season, and it had to be a Reebok suit. Lmao.
I agree suits were so cool
So many comments and I haven’t really seen anyone that seems to have watched the video.
First: The title for this video undersells the entire thing
Second: Riley knew Armani going back 50 years ago when he was an assistant coach and that’s all he wears. That’s his style.
Third: He’s been wearing the same style of shoe made by a manufacturer that sold and doesn’t make the shoe anymore but he bought a stockpile to have them.
Fourth: He doesn’t say much about what other coaches should be doing, he says what he would do which is based on the standards of the 80s.
Fifth: if you’ve read this far then you probably have taken more time to understand the nature of what Pat said during this interaction that 98% of the people that reacted to it negatively, which was about 95% of the replies I saw.
The shoe thing is kinda crazy but I respect it. The man has a new pair of 30 year old discontinued shoes ready to go every time he needs more. Who knows how many he has left, or what he’ll switch to when he runs out (does he just retire at that point??)
Appreciate this, thanks
It’s kind of a strange thing to notice anyways, but now that I think about it, coaches dressing like they belong on a basketball court instead of a courtroom seems like an improvement tbh
The fact that you associate suits with courtrooms says everything about how fashion has evolved.
A true leader will shine regardless of attire.
The old “the man makes the clothes” vs “the clothes make the man” debate
Is Pat Riley currently affiliated with the Lakers? I thought he was working for the Heat?
Lakers made a statue to honor him that’s why he’s there.
I was thinking the same thing!
I don’t watch for the coaches. Matching leisure wear with team logos/colors is cool with me. To me, it makes it like they are part of the team more, like baseball coaches.
Nobody actually cares, right? Maybe they could wear an actual uniform like many MLB managers.
Stupid conversation, people are going to arenas to watch players play, no one is paying anything to see coaches.
You’re here for the players not the coach lol
I’m personally here for the refs, and boy have I been eating good
I could honestly careless what the coach is wearing and don’t even pay attention to the coaches during the game
I know it’s been like 20 years since I was in high school but if you playing sports as a boy you wore dress pants, dress shirt and a tie on game day. I had respect for that
I miss the suits tbh
Ok grandpa let’s get you to bed
For an 80 year old grandpa, his vocabulary is still quite eloquent.
He’s right tho
I mean grandpa right tho have you ever worn a suit of high quality that shit feels better than what coaches wearing now lol
There was a period where David Stern had the players coming to the arenas in suite and ties and they looked professional.
David Stern? The guy from the Epstein files?
My 2 most conservative NBA opinions are that coaches should go back to wearing suits or at least a team polo and teams should go back to wearing light at home unless they’re using a special jersey/court combo.
I agree bring the suits back !
I remember watching the eurobasket……the Italian team all had on black armani suits. it was different
Pat, I literally don’t care what the coaches are wearing I’m not watching games to watch a coach.
People’s ability to lead has literally NOTHING to do with the clothes they wear. The sooner we can move on from this boomer mentality the better. All of you saying “they look better in suits”, this is typically a cognitive bias called the halo effect.
In essence your brain is flawed around this so you need to actively be aware of it and think about it to not fall into the bias.
I agree with him ngl. Coaches used to always wear suits right up until covid.
They should suit up like baseball managers. So should football coaches.
/s: nothing is more ridiculous than someone like Tommy Lasorda wearing the same uniform as their players.
Why is Pat Riley giving a presser with a Lakers backdrop? I probably missed something, but I thought he was still with the Heat
The Lakers put up a Statue of him.
Another old white dude trying to equate leadership with clothing. As if anyone gives a fuck.
old millennial here. such a Mad Men washed take. you guys bounce a basketball for a living. Wear whatever you want
Hi, audience member here, I don’t care what a coach wears as long as they win games 🤷
Coaches looked cooler when they wore suits like Riles rather than the High School Gym teachers they look like today with the quarter zips
I couldn’t care less Pat….
Spo in a suit was GOATed
I absolutely could not care less if they wore a suit on the sidelines.
I feel like shirtless would be more effective at showing leadership and asserting dominance
In my younger days , I would have disagreed and thought it doesn’t matter. After working in a corporate environment that allows nice jeans and dress shirts , people are wearing holy jeans and sometimes not combing their hair and sometimes acting like children, he may have a point about dressing professionally
We talkin about Armani?!
Yeah it did look better
Watching the Olympics and seeing the hockey coaches in suits has me agreeing.
Seeing coaches in athletic wear ain’t the move.
I do too. Enough of this stupid sweat suit thing. A coach belongs in a suit. Look at the nhl, those coaches are still wearing suits and it makes them look 10x more professional.
Modern casual culture is stupid in sports.
The jump suits are a disgrace! Bring back the suits
Who cares every coach probably likes being comfortable more then anything. Just another old guy saying old guy back in my day stuff
I’m not mad at his opinion. Just think it’s an outdated one. I’m a young millennial so it doesn’t matter to me what the coach wears as long as he can do his job effectively without distracting the players or fans.
Too many boomers around. No one needs to look like a politician to coach sports.. especially with what we know now
I agree. Bring back the suits!
Agreed. Looked awesome too.
Coaches wearing suits was always weird to me– like, wtf is formal about a basketball game.