The Miami Heat are in the midst of their toughest season in the last five years as Jimmy Butler publicly requested a trade away from the franchise. Butler’s relationship with Heat President Pat Riley has broken down, with Riley taking multiple shots at Butler in recent months.
Riley appeared on Dan Le Batard’s show where the host frankly asked him his opinion on Heat fans calling Riley ‘washed’ as the Boston Celtics have become perennial contenders.
“Whoever’s saying that I haven’t read it because I’m not on any social media site. Not one. And, I don’t care. I’ve had my a** kicked by the Celtics enough when I was coaching and they’re a great team. They put together a great organization, a great team, and they’ve broken all records financially, so they’ve committed themselves.”
“This is an important year for the Heat, I don’t worry about what the critics say. Maybe I am (washed). Maybe I should go somewhere and put my feet up but then I’ll become obsessive and compulsive about doing something else.”
Riley also spoke at length about the growing cultural disconnect he feels with modern NBA players, who approach the game of basketball entirely differently from how Riley did as a player, coach, and now President.
“I would’ve handled it differently. There’s no doubt, but I can’t. The players who want to express themselves in a way that’s completely anti what my beliefs are on representing an organization… There’s nothing you can do about it. The league wants it, content is king. I have found out that the Commissioner won’t allow the media to be kept out. Access is all it’s about. Players’ personalities nowadays, the younger generation, are different from how they were when I grew up.”
“I understand this generation of players and how they want to live their lives, it’s different. The music they listen to, how they brand themselves, how they dress, it might be more flamboyant than I want but I respect that. There’s a difference.”
Riley went on to draw a Biblical comparison which essentially boils down to wanting the players on the Heat to treat the franchise like it’s God and give everything they can to ensure its success.
“Be who you want to be. In Biblical terms, ‘Render unto Caeser what is his.’ When his apostles were trying to give all their money to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, he was like, ‘No, pay Caesar.’ As players, they have to render unto the Heat what is theirs. While they go out and do the other things, you can’t shortcut it with us.”
He seemingly took a shot at the disgruntled Jimmy Butler by aggressively reminding players that they do owe something to the franchise they play for as long as they’re under contract.
“I’ve actually explained this to players. While you’re under a contract with us, you do owe us something. Your Collective Bargaining Agreement contract says that, so don’t ever take that lightly. We have a very cooperative group of people but I feel like I owe something to Mickey, he’s my boss, and I feel the same way about the players.”
This was really eye-opening. Riley’s general philosophy as a Team President is getting outdated, and it seems like the NBA legend is aware of this himself. But as long as it is his job to run the Heat, he’ll do it in the way he sees fit.
Jimmy Butler might be agitating for a trade request, but it seems clear that he won’t get one unless Riley deems it the best move for the franchise. His last comment about players owing the team something when they’re under contract is telling, as Riley is going to try to ensure Butler lives up to the paper he signed if he doesn’t get traded.
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