Miami Heat to name Kaseya Center court after Pat Riley

The Miami Heat announced Monday evening that they will be dedicating their Kaseya Center court in honor of franchise icon Pat Riley, who will be entering his 30th year in the organization.

From now on we’ll be playing on “Pat Riley Court at Kaseya Center” 🏀

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

— Miami HEAT (@MiamiHEAT) October 7, 2024

The new court will be unveiled on opening night, when the Heat will host the Orlando Magic on Oct. 23 at 7:30 p.m. EST.

“Thirty years, three championships, countless moments—none of it would have been possible without Pat Riley at the helm of the ship,” owner Micky Arison said via release. “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.”

This a well-deserved honor for Pat Riley:

The city of Miami was strictly a football town before Pat Riley’s arrival in 1995, less than a decade after the franchise’s inception. Over their first seven seasons, they went a combined 205-369 (.357) with two first-round exits in 1991-92 and 1993-94.

When Riley arrived, he instilled a toughness–a CULTURE–into the organization that became the backbone for the next three decades; he raised the bar ten-fold and laid the groundwork for one of the best well-run organizations not only in the NBA, but in sports. The Heat rose to the city’s most successful franchise under Riley’s guidance, which can’t be overstated.

Riley, a longtime executive who went 454-395 in 11 seasons as the team’s head coach, oversaw all three Heat championships in 2006, 2012 and 2013. He drafted another franchise icon, Dwyane Wade, in 2003, and oversaw other acquisitions of Alonzo Mourning, Shaquille O’Neal, LeBron James, Chris Bosh, Goran Dragic and Jimmy Butler.

You can like him or hate him, but this franchise isn’t as successful as it is without Pat Riley. He’s one of the greatest coaches and executives in NBA history. Most importantly, He poured his heart and soul into the organization when nobody could, and now will be given another permanent honor to celebrate a remarkable 30 years.

“This has been one hell of a journey that Micky and I have taken together over the last 30 years,” Riley said via release. “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, Chris and my family. 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.”