The Miami Heat found a new way to honor longtime team president Pat Riley.
When they open the season later this month, they will do so playing on the new Pat Riley Court at the Kaseya Center. The team announced this week that it would officially dedicate its arena floor in Riley’s honor.
“It’s been quite a journey that (owner) Micky (Arison) and I have been on together over the last 30 years,” Riley said in a statement. “The goal from day one was to win and win big. We did it. We won championships, we splashed champagne, had parades, celebrated on this floor, in this arena, in the streets with our great fans and hung the names of our greatest players from the rafters.
“Giving my name to the court would have made my parents very proud. It’s a great honor for me, (my wife) Chris and my family.”
Riley enters his 30th season with the Heat this fall. After a long career with the Los Angeles Lakers, where he won four championships, and the New York Knicks, Riley was hired as head coach of the Heat before the 1995-96 campaign. He compiled a 454-395 record over the next 11 seasons and helped the franchise win the championship in 2006 with Dwyane Wade and Shaquille O’Neal.
He transitioned to the front office in 2008, where he helped land LeBron James and lead the Heat to another pair of NBA titles and four straight NBA Finals appearances. Riley was also named to the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame in 2008.
The Heat went 46-36 last season and made the playoffs for a fifth straight year under coach Erik Spoelstra, who took over from Riley in 2008. They will officially open the regular season on the 23rd. October against the Orlando Magic.
