Choosing a successor was never easy for Miami Heat president and minority owner Pat Riley . However, he talked about how he was impressed by how Erik Spoelstra matured in his basketball approach. This led him to name the former video coordinator as the organization’s next head coach.
As a guest on “The OGs Show,” Riley talked about the factors that led him to select Spoelstra . The former head coach of the Los Angeles Lakers told former Heat players Udonis Haslem and Mike Miller how the current head coach’s maturity caught his attention.
Riley claims he disliked meetings and instructed his assistant coaches to write their observations following each game.
“That was a hard decision,” Riley said. “When I left, because there were a couple of guys there that were with me since the beginning. One of the things as a coach that I never liked to do is meet… I wanted all the coaches after the game to watch the film and then to write down their notes and slide them under my door.”
Being an assistant coach since the late 1990s, Spoelstra’s understanding of the game matured. Riley noticed the growth, allowing him to choose the former assistant to be the next head coach for the Heat.
“I appreciate people’s opinion’s. And Spo, I’d see the blue cards come under my door. Every year, Spo’s comments got better, better, deeper, smarter, higher basketball IQ. The questions he was asking and the points he were bringing up, I said, ‘This guy’s got something going for him.’”
Pat Riley on Erik Spoelstra’s greatness
The OGs x Pat Riley out now here: https://t.co/5RTdHu0N7G pic.twitter.com/UBfwmds2ui
— The OGs Show (@theOGsShow) November 26, 2024
With Coach Spo, the Heat became a consistent contender and won two titles with the Big 3 of LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh from 2010 to 2014.
Riley’s honest thoughts on LeBron James’ title guarantees after joining the Miami Heat
Before James could play a game for the Miami Heat, he went viral for his claims that they would win multiple titles. With Riley’s recent appearance at Haslem’s show, he revealed his honest thoughts on LeBron’s guarantees.
“I didn’t mind at all. We had a packed house, fans are going crazy. Those things don’t happen that often in the NBA.”
Riley said he didn’t mind as he pulled a similar media stunt following their 1987 championship win with the Lakers.
“In 1987, we beat the Celtics. It was the best team that we had, that team had matured to be the best they could be as a team. We won 67 games that year and we won the title. After four championships, I remember saying to the media at the parade, ‘I guarantee that next year we’re gonna win it again.’”
Riley’s claims came to fruition as the Lakers won the Larry O’Brien trophy the following season.
