The Miami Heat have 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 Kaseya Center. The team announced this week that it will officially dedicate its arena floor in Riley’s honor.
“This has been an incredible journey that (owner) Micky (Arison) and I have been on together over the past 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 sprayed each other with champagne, we had parades, we celebrated on this floor, in this arena, in the streets with our great fans and we hung names. of our best players from the rafters.
“Naming the court after me would have made my parents very proud. It’s a great honor for me, (my wife) Chris and my family.”
Riley is entering his 30th season leading the Heat this fall. After a long career with both the Los Angeles Lakers, where he won four championships, and the New York Knicks, Riley was hired as head coach of the Heat prior to the 1995-96 campaign. He compiled a 454-395 record over the next 11 seasons and helped lead the franchise to a 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 inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame in 2008.
The Heat went 46-36 last season and made the playoffs for the fifth straight year under coach Erik Spoelstra, who replaced Riley in 2008. They will officially open the regular season on Oct. 23 against the Orlando Magic.