Miami Heat give Pat Riley ultimate honor as he enters 30th season with the team

The Miami Heat are honoring Pat Riley by naming the court after him.

From now on the Heat will be playing on “Pat Riley Court at Kaseya Center,” the team announced Monday. Riley will be honored on opening night of the 2024-25 season as he goes into his 30th season with the Heat.

The Heat’s regular-season opener is Oct. 23 vs the Orlando Magic.

The Heat will honor Pat Riley by renaming the court, "Pat Riley Court at Kaseya Center."

Riley joined the Heat organization as head coach in 1995 after coaching the New York Knicks and Los Angeles Lakers over the previous 14 years, during which he won four championships as head coach of the Lakers. Riley coached the Knicks from 1991 to 1995 before resigning from his position to take the Heat job.

Everything for the Heat changed after that. Shortly after taking the job, Riley traded for Alonzo Mourning and Tim Hardaway, moves that turned the Heat from a former expansion team clamoring for relevance to a perennial playoff team.

In 2003, Riley spearheaded the organization’s decision to draft Dwyane Wade with the fifth pick in the draft. A year later, he orchestrated the blockbuster that brought Shaquille O’Neal to Miami. In 2006, the Heat won their first championship.

In 2010, Riley struck again. He signed Wade, LeBron James and Chris Bosh in the same offseason, ushering in the Big 3 era, four straight Finals appearances and back-to-back championships in 2012 and 2013.

Riley’s influence over the Heat organization can’t be overstated. His attitude and no-nonsense approach are the bedrock of Heat Culture, and the Heat have been among the most successful organizations in the sport under his guidance.

Erik Spoelstra is a direct disciple of Riley and has similarly positioned the Heat as perennial contenders.

That Riley is being honored with the court’s namesake is fitting. Last season, they did the closest thing by printing his words on their City Edition, “Heat Culture” court: “Hardest working, best conditioned, most professional, unselfish, toughest, meanest, nastiest team in the NBA.”

Instead of all that, now it can just say, “Pat Riley.”