The Godfather of the NBA is seemingly heading toward Jerry Jones’ path, say former NBA players.
Miami Heat president Pat Riley is one of the greatest figures in NBA history. Be it as a player, coach, or executive, Riley has experienced it all.
Since 1995, Riley has been associated with the Heat and has helped the franchise win three NBA rings during his time.
But in recent years, it feels like Riley’s methods have become outdated. The most recent example is his rift with superstar Jimmy Butler.
Butler’s trade saga with the Heat has taken over headlines over the past few weeks. The 35-year-old star recently claimed that he has lost the joy of playing basketball in Miami.
While there are many reasons behind Butler’s unhappiness with the Heat, Riley’s comments last summer were a major contributor. Keeping that in mind, former NBA player Matt Barnes gave his two cents on the current situation in Miami.
“It’s been his way or the highway, he let D-Wade [Dwyane Wade] go at one point, LeBron [James] left. My question is everyone has to conform to what this new era of basketball is, and to Jimmy’s defense, what has Pat brought him in the last 10 years as far as stars?
“They’ve never really got a superstar around Jimmy.”
Barnes also criticized the current roster construction around Butler.
“What are you really giving him? You’ve got Bam [Adebayo] who’s having a down year, [Tyler] Herro whose have an up year, but overall you have never really paired anyone alongside Jimmy who has made a next step.”
Even at 35 years old, Butler has announced that he feels like he is in the prime of his career. It’s hard to see someone with that mentality waste the final few years of his NBA career in a mediocre team.
For years, NFL fans have criticized how Dallas Cowboys owner, president, and general manager Jerry Jones has run the team. He is known for micromanaging the team and at times even telling the coaches which players to play on the field.
Barnes suggested that Riley’s stubbornness could lead him to become the Jerry Jones of the NBA.
“Could Pat Riley end up being a Jerry Jones, and running this ___ into the ground and doesn’t change the way he looks at these younger players.”
“If I’m a younger player looking at this ___, not knowing the details, we just know what we’ve seen and heard, I don’t want to ___ with Miami if I know Pat Riley’s on this kind of time.”
Barnes’ co-host Stephen Jackson wants Riley to change his approach and let go of a ‘drill sergeant’ attitude.
“He’ll go down if he doesn’t change, I don’t think his championship mentality needs to change but his approach definitely has. Times have changed, your approach can change, you don’t have to be that drill sergeant kind of guy.”
The next few weeks will be critical in what kind of a president Riley wants to be remembered as. While the Heat are actively searching for a team to trade for Butler, he is serving a suspension.
Now, the ball is in Riley’s court to convince Jimmy to stay in Miami.
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