Pat Riley finally left and spoke after the first round sweep of the Miami Heat at the hands of the Cleveland Cavaliers.
The Miami Heat reached the playoffs after winning the play-in tournament again. There, Andrew Wiggins gave a memorable performance to lead the team.
However, they were completely fired up in the playoffs and were dominated by the Cleveland Cavaliers in all four games in the first round.
After losing, the three Heat’s top pay players refused to even talk to the media.
Tyler Hero, considered one of the best players on his roster, also had a poor series against the Cavaliers.
This made things even more difficult due to the heat, and their fans weren’t happy with team president Pat Riley after another early exit in the playoffs.
Just a week from the exit, the 80-year-old finally came out and talked about the issues the team faced, including a standoff between him and Jimmy Butler.
Riley admitted that Butler’s situation has had a huge impact on the team this season.
The six-time All-Star wanted a maximum expansion, but Riley refused to offer him a contract, which caused several months of confusion between the two.
Eventually, Butler was traded for the Golden State Warriors, and the Heat received Andrew Wiggins and Kyle Anderson. However, they were eliminated in the first round of the playoffs with a 4-0 sweep by the Cavaliers.
Riley said: “There’s no doubt what happened with Jimmy. It had a huge impact on our team. The back stopped with me. I’ll take that hit. I don’t want to argue what happened in the regular season.”
Butler was suspended three times by Riley for various reasons before he was traded with the Warriors.
Things didn’t end well between Riley and Butler, but the veteran coach and team president had praise for the players.
“I wish him well, I wish him good luck, I hope he is somewhere deep inside his heart.
Riley also refused to apologise for not offering Butler the maximum contract.
He added:
Riley is one of the most respected figures in the league.
Magic Johnson recently showed his love for Riley, as the 80-year-old was a coach who won the La Lakers championship in the past.
However, over the past two years he has been in the spotlight due to the Heat’s disappointment in the playoffs.
Many also urge Riley to stop the heat, including fans who think it’s time for change.
Speaking about his future, he said: “I’m 80. I’m proud of it. The new 80 is the new 60.
“I’m competitive like hell. I love being in the bowl. I’m an Irish guy. So I have the obstacles I have by being Irish and hate losing because it makes me miserable and you become miserable.
“After the last two games, I was a little depressed. Mickey (Alison) and Nick (Alison) and I met. They were so good to me.
Riley was the man who changed the fate of fever by bringing in talented players who helped her team win the championship.
He hasn’t been able to deliver in the last few years, but the Heat still has plenty of talent on their roster to use to run the deal.
One of the players he clearly wants to stay is Tyler Hero, who will be eligible for extension later this year.
“We’re happy to have him. He’s crucial to us as an offensive player,” Riley said.
“We need to do a little more about him and around him. He’s beaten and overly planned.
Riley has admitted that the team will look different next season, and if that happens, things can turn around and people can once again pay tribute to his name.