Heat naming home floor after Pat Riley
The Miami Heat are naming their home floor "Pat Riley Court at Kaseya Center" to celebrate the Hall of Famer's 30th season with the franchise, the team announced Monday.
Riley joins Boston Celtics icon Red Auerbach as the only head coaches in NBA history to receive such an honor.
From now on we'll be playing on “Pat Riley Court at Kaseya Center” 🏀
— Miami HEAT (@MiamiHEAT) October 7, 2024
We’ll be dedicating our court and honoring Pat on Opening Night as he goes into his 30th season. Be in the building - https://t.co/VgDac1hpEc pic.twitter.com/tRJBj5WnC7
"Thirty years, three championships, countless moments - none of it would have been possible without Pat Riley at the helm of the ship," Heat owner Micky Arison said in a statement.
"Pat has accomplished so much for this franchise and this city that it's only fitting his name is forever etched on the hardwood where every day we will be reminded of his impact on the game and the Heat."
Riley joined the Heat in 1995 to become the club's new president of basketball operations and head coach. The team developed into a perennial contender under his leadership, winning three titles in seven Finals appearances.
Riley went 454-395 over parts of 11 seasons as Miami's head coach. He took home Coach of the Year honors in his second campaign at the helm. The New York native guided the Heat to four 50-win campaigns and its maiden NBA championship in 2005-06.
Riley stepped down as head coach in April 2008 but retained his position as team president. He was named Executive of the Year in 2011 after his offseason acquisition of LeBron James and Chris Bosh formed the renowned "Big Three" with Dwyane Wade.
"This has been one hell of a journey that Micky and I have taken together over the last 30 years," Riley said in a statement. "The goal from Day 1 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. ... I can only say thank you from the bottom of my heart to Micky and the Arison family for this honor. And to all the players, coaches, staff, and super fans, I say thank you."