Pat Riley says he had to let go after LeBron James’ Heat exit
The Heat president revisited James’ 2014 departure, saying he once believed Miami was on track for a dynasty.
By Georgia Hale · Staff Writer
3 min read
Pat Riley still remembers the version of the Miami Heat that never got to grow old.
The Heat president revisited LeBron James’ 2014 departure during an appearance on The Dan Le Batard Show, saying he was disappointed at the time because he believed Miami had the bones of a long-running title machine.
Riley said on the show that he and James have not spoken much over the years, though they have crossed paths. He added that time changes the edge of an old breakup, saying, “you let go of that stuff.”
The comments landed while James’ latest free agency wait continues. CBS Sports reported that the Heat are believed to be among the teams with a realistic shot at James, in part because Miami would be a championship threat with him on the roster.
According to CBS Sports, Miami has traded for Giannis Antetokounmpo and also has Bam Adebayo, described in the report as one of the league’s top defenders and another All-Star. The report noted that shooting remains a concern, but pointed to a core of James, Antetokounmpo, Adebayo and coach Erik Spoelstra as a group that would give Miami a chance.
The breakup that still follows Miami
James left the Heat in 2014 after four straight NBA Finals trips and two championships alongside Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh. CBS Sports noted that the expectation around the league then was that Wade and Bosh, who had opted out of their deals, would return at reduced salaries so James could receive a maximum contract and Miami could keep its core together.
James instead announced his return to Cleveland in an open essay that included the line, “I’m coming home.”
Riley’s frustration with how that unfolded has been documented before. In Ian Thompson’s book The Soul of Basketball, Riley said he was “absolutely livid” over James leaving and over what he viewed as a lack of notice and respect shown to the Heat. Riley said in the book that he went through “two to three days of tremendous anger” after what he called his “beautiful plan” collapsed.
On Le Batard’s show, Riley again framed the disappointment around what he thought Miami could become. He said he believed the Heat were “looking at a dynasty.”
Riley says he understood Cleveland pull
Riley has also said, according to CBS Sports, that he came to understand why James returned to the Cavaliers. The reason was personal as well as basketball: Cleveland was home, and James had unfinished business after leaving the Cavaliers in 2010.
James delivered on that return. He led Cleveland to four straight Finals and ended the city’s 52-year major sports championship drought in 2016, when the Cavaliers became the first team to rally from a 3-1 deficit in the NBA Finals, beating the 73-win Golden State Warriors.
CBS Sports raised the question of whether the way James’ Miami stint ended could factor into his current decision, while making clear that James has not said whether that history is part of his thinking.
The report also noted the Heat had cap space in 2014 and were linked in varying ways to Kyle Lowry, Pau Gasol, Luol Deng and Vince Carter. Riley said in Thompson’s book that he believed Miami “could have won five or six championships” if James had stayed.
That version of Heat history never happened. Bosh’s blood clot issues surfaced during the 2014-15 season and later ended his career, while Golden State’s run began that same year. Riley, at least, has made peace with the old sting, even if the what-if still has plenty of bounce.
This story draws on original reporting from CBS Sports.