Miami Heat fans have dealt with another disappointing season filled with tumultuous ups and downs. For the third year in a row, the Heat wound up in the NBA’s play-in tournament— and saw themselves get bounced in the first round of the postseason for the second consecutive year. Hopefully, real change is coming.
If there is anything that this disasterous 2024-25 campaign has shown, it is that there is no excuse for bringing back the same team. Luckily for Heat fans, team captain Bam Adebayo has put some pressure on Pat Riley and Miami's front office to provide the franchise with legitimate upgrades.
Bam Adebayo double-downed on his request for change within the Miami Heat.
Following Miami’s season-ending first-round series sweep by the Cleveland Cavaliers, Adebayo was vocal about.
“There are going to be a lot of changes this summer,” Adebayo said when asked what Heat changes are needed this offseason. “Just from my point of view, understanding how the guy with the silver hair works. So just be prepared for that.”
Two days later, the star big man doubled down during his end-of-season media session with reporters.
"At the end of the day, I want to win," Adebayo said. "So I can't really go into the logistics of the tweaks and everything. That’s more of a Pat Riley question. And I hope you can ask that question to him and he doesn’t blow you off and ignore you. He knows my mentality, he knows we want to win."
It has been evident all season long, and perhaps during his entire career, just how much Adebayo cares about the Heat franchise. He was named team captain for a reason, and this disappointing campaign only helped with the growth of his leadership both on and off the court.
And kudos to him for keeping it real.
The guys in that locker room all practice everyday with winning habits implemented. From the coaching staff, all the way down to the entire 15-man roster— they know that the expectations are much higher than just barely making the playoffs and being swept out of the first round.
Now it is up to Riley and the front office to maximize those habits and culture.
Everyone involved deserves to be put in a better position to succeed. It falls from the aggression of Riley to bring in the necessary talent needed to take the next steps forward. Having a proven All-Star caliber duo in Adebayo and Tyler Herro should provide enough of a foundation to re-tool around them.
They aren’t as far away as it may seem. Bring in another star and some impactful pieces and let’s see what the Heat are truly made of.