The Miami Heat to Dedicate Court to Pat Riley
The Miami Heat have announced that they will be honoring longtime team president Pat Riley by dedicating their court at the Kaseya Center to him. The new Pat Riley Court will be unveiled when the team opens their season later this month.
“This has been one hell of a journey that [owner] Micky [Arison] and I have taken together over the last 30 years,” Riley said in a statement. “The goal from day one was to win, and win big. We did. We won championships, sprayed each other with champagne, had parades, celebrated on this floor, in this arena, in the streets with our great fans and hung the names of our greatest players from the rafters.”
“Naming the court after me would have made my parents very proud. It is a great, great honor for myself, [wife] Chris and my family.”
Riley, who is entering his 30th season with the Heat, has had a storied career with the team. After successful stints with the Los Angeles Lakers and New York Knicks, Riley joined the Heat as head coach in 1995. He led the team to their first championship in 2006 and later transitioned to the front office, where he played a key role in bringing LeBron James to Miami and winning two more NBA titles.
Under coach Erik Spoelstra, who succeeded Riley in 2008, the Heat have continued their success, making the playoffs for the fifth consecutive year last season. They will kick off the new season on Oct. 23 against the Orlando Magic.