Miami Heat: Pat Riley believed the Big 3 could’ve made ‘finals eight times’

The 26-30 Miami Heat are coming off a long break after All-Star week where they saw only Dwyane Wade make an appearance, which may be good for this team, as they need their rest.

As the Miami Heat players rested, Pat Riley was doing the opposite with Dan Le Batard of ESPN, being interviewed about his former Heat championship team that was led by the infamous LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, and Chris Bosh, the “Big 3.” Riley didn’t talk too much about the specifics on this current Heat team, but he did seem pretty confident for the future of the Organization, as the 73-year-old was adamant about winning “another championship” before the end of his career.

But aside from this current Heat team and the future of this organization, Riley didn’t hold back from his true feelings on the matter of James deciding to leave the Heat and what he believed the “Big 3” could have done if staying put, per Ira Winderman of Sun Sentinel:

"“When LeBron made that call, I saw a dynasty fly out the window,” Riley said in the clip posted Tuesday by ESPN. “I didn’t blame him. But I knew that was a 10-year team. It was just a sad day for me and for our franchise because I wanted that dynasty. I wanted this city and this team to go 10 years and maybe be in the Finals eight times.”“I don’t know how many championships we would have won. But I don’t have any rancor toward him at all.”"

That Heat “Big 3” that was assembled in the summer of 2010, with all three players signing 6-year deals worth well over $100 million each, Riley felt that this was the roster of the future and a dynasty was in the cards for Miami. However, LeBron had a different feeling in the summer of 2014, with James feeling like he had something left to give in Cleveland, he traveled back to Ohio to win the first Cavaliers championship in team history.

And while that story sounds like an epic, it truly wasn’t for Heat nation, as Riley and fans were ecstatic for their rings thanks to Wade, LeBron, and Bosh, but it wasn’t enough, as everyone was promised more, quite literally promised by James himself below:

Riley, in that video, seemed like he just won the lottery.

However, current-Riley doesn’t seem disgruntled as much as he seems disappointed, the historic GM may have a strong point in saying – or, agreeing with James – that the Heat could have gone to eight championships, but are unfortunately now stuck in the current basketball purgatory that James left for the Heat. And who knows, if it wasn’t for James leaving Miami, the Warriors may have never formed the current Avengers-like team they now possess.

Even though both Heat fandom and Riley seem very appreciative of Wade, James, and Bosh, you can’t help but still have a bad taste in your mouth from what “could have been” of the “Big 3.” As the Heat weren’t far off from Wade staying away from ever being in a Heat jersey ever again, Bosh being angry for not being paid due to his career-ending blood clots, and LeBron feeling some type of way for how the team was handled under Riley. To be frank, it could have been a lot worse after looking back at the past, as the Heat finally brought back Wade, and now retiring Bosh’s jersey in March, albeit, the James/Heat relationship feels like it will be a bit stained for the foreseeable future.

Ultimately, Riley will have to deal with his current roster until, at least, 2021. And by then, he can rebuild a new team in the likes of the former “Big 3,” if that’s truly what he wants (or believes he can do).