25 Years Ago, Pat Riley Left The Knicks After They Denied His Request For A Share Of Ownership. Today, Riley Has Lead The Heat To 3 Championships Since 2006.

3 Min Read

The New York Knicks may be the NBA’s most valuable team, but they sure don’t have a lot to show for it.

Years of mismanagement and front-office mistakes have cost this franchise decades of mediocrity and it’s a problem that stems all the way from the top.

But did you know that they had the chance to add Pat Riley to their ownership circle all the way back in the late 90s? He resigned in 1995 after he and New York failed to reach terms on a deal. And while there’s no telling what might’ve (or could’ve) happened, he’s exactly the type of guy they could have used right about now.

And had the Knicks decided to just give him the conditions he wanted, he might still be there today.

(via The LA Times)

Leaving the largest contract ever offered to a basketball coach sitting on the table, Pat Riley resigned unexpectedly as coach of the New York Knicks on Thursday.

Riley, 50, who had been offered a five-year, $15-million extension, said in his release he needed control of personnel matters.

At the news conference, Checketts noted that Riley had asked for a share of ownership too.

In his release, Riley said his decision “had absolutely nothing to do with money” but everything to do with power.

“For the last two years,” Riley said, “I had consistently and repeatedly expressed to Knick management my desire and need to be charged with ultimate responsibility for all significant aspects of the ballclub. During this time, I had tried my best to reach an agreement with management on these issues. Unhappily, the gap between us could not be bridged.”

Newsday reported that Riley at one point asked for $50 million over five years, plus 25% ownership of the team, and the Knicks countered with a five-year, $25-million offer.

In hindsight, the deal was pretty extraordinary for the time, and even for a guy as established as Riley, it is understandable that the Knicks were unwilling to give him the totality of what he wanted.

Unfortunately, it doesn’t change the fact that it likely would have been worth it. Since his arrival in Miami as an executive, he has turned them into a powerhouse, winning three NBA Championships and many Finals appearances — including this very season against LeBron James and the L.A. Lakers.

With a guy like Riley at the helm, it’s hard to believe the Knicks would not be in a better situation today. Of course — they’ll never get the chance to find out.

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Nico Martinez is a veteran staff writer for Fadeaway World from Brooklyn, New York. He joined Fadeaway World in 2016 and is currently residing in Columbia, South Carolina. Nico holds a degree in Sports Management from Columbia International University where he built a strong foundation in the inner workings of sports media and management. Nico's contributions have significantly enhanced the credibility and depth of Fadeaway World's content, earning him recognition across the sports journalism community. His work has been discussed in prestigious publications like Sports Illustrated. A dedicated follower of LeBron James, Nico often leads coverage on news related to the basketball star. With nearly a decade of experience in sports journalism, Nico consistently provides comprehensive and timely basketball news, engaging a wide audience of basketball enthusiasts.Nico's most desired player to interview, past or present, is Kevin Durant. He is particularly keen on asking Durant if he has any regrets about his career, especially concerning his departure from the Oklahoma City Thunder, and why he engages so much with fans on social media. 
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