Part 6/10:
The Lakers claimed the NBA championship in 1980, with Riley tasting golden success as their head coach. However, subsequent seasons tested his team's resilience. After successive finals losses to the Philadelphia 76ers and Boston Celtics, Riley instilled a "no friends" policy intending to transition his squad from a mere good team to a true dynasty. This commitment to a singular focus on winning cultivated mental toughness within the team and led to championship titles in 1982, 1985, and 1987.
Riley’s rigorous practice methods and physical play transformed the team into contenders, challenging the perception of finesse teams. His mantra, "no rebounds, no rings," further framed the necessity of physicality in the game.