As Riley makes 19th Finals, Heat players appreciate his texts, words of encouragement
The statistic, first mentioned by longtime NBA writer David Aldridge, is staggering:
Since the NBA Finals began in 1947, Heat president Pat Riley has been a part of nearly a quarter of them (19 of 77).
Here’s another way of framing it: Riley has been involved in 34 percent of all NBA Finals since his rookie season as a player (1967-68).
Riley’s 19 Finals appearances as a player, coach or executive tie him with legendary Boston Celtics coach and general manager Red Auerbach, but is still significantly behind all-time leader Jerry West, who was a player, coach, GM or consultant in 30 Finals.
Riley, who was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Hall of Fame as a coach in 2008, has emerged victorious in nine of his 18 previous Finals appearances — four as Lakers head coach, once as Heat head coach, once as a Lakers assistant coach, once as a player and twice as a Heat executive.
Only Red Auerbach (16), K.C Jones and Tommy Heinsohn (10), Bill Russell (11) and Phil Jackson (13) have been involved with more championship teams than Riley. West has been involved in eight as an executive and one as a player.
Beyond the greatness of his career, Heat players appreciate Riley’s texts, the words of encouragement, the casual exchange in the halls of Kaseya Center or on the court after a Heat practice.
Through this playoff run, Riley — in chats with players — has made it clear that “he’s proud of the way we’ve been playing, proud of the way we’ve been sticking with how [difficult] the regular season has been,” Heat wing Caleb Martin said Tuesday. “He’s real positive.”
Riley, 78, also told Martin that “he’s happy for me, proud of the progress I’ve been making. I talk to him here and there. It’s hard not to play hard for a guy like that. I appreciate everything” from him.
With Max Strus, Riley has a simple message: “He tells me to be me,” Strus said. “Love Pat. Love having him around. He’s here every single day. Just to be able to learn from him [is valuable]. He’s been through so much experience in these environments. Nothing really seems to faze him. Just being able to learn from him, and just watching how he acts and carries himself is enough in itself.”
After Riley and owner Micky Arison promoted Erik Spoelstra 15 years ago, Riley has been careful not to step on his coach’s toes with players or media. He generally speaks to reporters two or three times a year; his last media session was last summer.
But he’s not exactly in the shadows, either. Riley sits courtside at almost every practice, meets casually with Spoelstra afterward (sessions that Spoelstra has said he treasures) and exchanges words or fist bumps with players.
“Defending and rebounding is all he really cares about,” Strus said when asked what specific instruction Riley has given him. “He has told me to rebound more a couple times. He lets me play and lets us do our thing and trusts us with our ability on the court that we will do what’s best for the team.”
Gabe Vincent, meanwhile, appreciates the occasional texts from the Heat’s president.
“When I see him, we will exchange words or if time has gone by, there will be a text,” Vincent said. “All of it has been meaningful, whether it’s a compliment saying I’m tough or telling me to be aggressive or keep going and stay focused.”
Few players ever question Riley publicly.
That’s what made it notable when Kyle Lowry, at Heat media day last September, seemed mildly dismissive when asked about Riley’s June comment that he needed to come back this season in better shape.
But Lowry and Riley met in February after Lowry began a month-long break to heal his injured knee. On Tuesday, Lowry made clear his respect for Riley.
That meeting with Riley “was a great conversation, making sure I was healthy for an opportunity to go on a run like we’ve been,” Lowry said. “Making it to the Finals, I am as healthy as I’ve been in awhile.”
Lowry said he emerged from that meeting with Riley feeling “fantastic. Having Pat have your back is a good feeling; he’s a good guy to have back there.”
▪ Riley’s 19 Finals appearances have included three as a player (with the Lakers twice in 1972 and 1973 and the Suns in 1976), one as a Lakers assistant coach (in 1980), seven times as Lakers head coach (1982, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1987, 1988, 1989), once as Knicks coach (1994), once as Heat coach (2006) and six times as a Heat executive (2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2020 and 2023).
This story was originally published June 6, 2023 at 2:38 PM.
