The Miami Heat are getting ready to tip-off again, with the league looking at a July 31st restarting date. Amid coronavirus concerns, will Pat Riley travel?
The Miami Heat are many things. First, foremost, and above all else, they are a world-class organization that prides itself on doing things the right way.
This is a concept and a philosophy than trickles from the top down through the organization. That means that it starts at the very top, with the team owner and chief basketball decision-maker, before rolling down to the rest of the organization.
The chief basketball decision-maker, in this case, is none other than The Godfather, Pat Riley. Let’s look back at one of those first statements.
When it comes to doing things the right way amid this new world that we live in among coronavirus concerns, you have to ask yourself, would it be safe for Pat Riley to travel to Orlando? Even in a bubble city, you ask this as those up in age are most at risk of contracting the virus and Riles is no spring chicken at 75.
The Miami Heat are getting ready to travel to Orlando for the conclusion of the season. Will Pat Riley travel with them?
This is a question because, even at his age, he still stays rather involved with the team from a being there and knowing what’s going on himself perspective. At first though, we thought that the league would nix the idea of Pat Riley traveling, but that isn’t the case.
While this information is mostly in regard to those who have to be there that are up in age, the older coaches of the NBA, it is still relevant to Riles. Here is a tweet from ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski that details the information.
Legal experts consulted by ESPN, including a top attorney in the Miami office of the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, agreed unanimously the NBA could not exclude any personnel from participating in Orlando solely on the basis of age. https://t.co/bNfRmsY7Cr
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) June 10, 2020
Well, it won’t be against the rules for him to travel. This means that he and the Miami Heat organization will have to make their own decision. Hopefully, that means making the absolute best decision for Pat Riley’s personal health.
When you are as hands-on and present as Pat Riley seems to be at times for the Miami Heat, this is definitely a question worth asking. It’s further solidified by the fact that he is, indeed, in that age group that is considered most at risk.
There is no building without an architect. Riley is that architect and in him we trust. Protect him at all costs!