Miami Heat president Pat Riley held his end-of-season news conference on Friday, nearly two weeks after his team’s elimination from the NBA playoffs in a four-game sweep versus the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Following a tumultuous season during which team management feuded with Jimmy Butler over a contract extension and eventually traded him to the Golden State Warriors, the Heat finished as the No. 10 team in the Eastern Conference at 37-45 and had to get into the playoffs through the play-in tournament.
“There’s no doubt that what happened with Jimmy had a tremendous impact on our team,” Riley told reporters. “There’s no doubt about it.”
However, Riley had no regrets about not giving Butler the extension he wanted and felt no need to apologize — whether to Butler, Heat players, or the team’s fans — for how the situation developed.
“No, I’m not going to apologize for saying no on the contract extension when we didn’t have to,” he said. “And I don’t think I should. I will always say that to the players, if I was coaching, ‘Keep your mouth shut, and I’ll see you next training camp.’ And you get back on the court.”
Advertisement
Riley acknowledged that players are different now than when he coached and such an approach might not work anymore, as it has for him in the past. However, he prefers to move on from the Butler situation after addressing it for what he apparently hopes is the final time.
“It’s over. He’s done. I wish him well,” Riley added. “Good luck to him and I hope deep down in his heart somewhere, he wishes us well too.”
This story will be updated.
This news was originally published on this post .
About the author
Anthony Edwards scores 28 2nd half points to lead Timberwolves past Warriors
<!--> Anthony Edwards hit a baseline 3-pointer with 1:19 remaining and scored 36 points, Julius Randle had a triple-double of 24 points, 12 assists and 10 rebounds, and the Minnesota Timberwolves beat the Golden State Warriors 102-97 on Saturday night for a 2-1 lead in their second-round playoff series.Jimmy Butler had 33 points, seven assists and seven rebounds and Jonathan Kuminga scored 30 off the bench, but the Warriors still lacked the kind of rhythm they have with Stephen Curry on the floor.Kuminga shot 11 for 18 as the Warriors again mixed and matched while playing without Curry as he nurses a strained left hamstring that he injured early in Game 1 on Tuesday.Game 4 is Monday night at Chase Center.Warriors coach Steve Kerr stressed his team had to win with defense — and his team couldn't make the key […]
Astros pitcher Lance McCullers Jr. received threats after start
HOUSTON — Houston Astros starter Lance McCullers Jr. said he and his family received threats on social media following his poor outing during Saturday’s 13-9 loss against the Cincinnati Reds.An Astros spokesman said the team notified both the Houston Police Department and Major League Baseball security about the threats toward McCullers, a 31-year-old right-hander who made his second start of the season on Saturday.Advertisement“It’s been a tough evening,” McCullers said. “I understand people are very passionate and people love the Astros and love sports, but threatening to find my kids and murder them is a little bit tough to deal with.”Astros manager Joe Espada began his postgame news conference with an impassioned opening statement in which he revealed the threats.“I just left my office and it’s very unfortunate that there are people who are threatening his life and the life […]
Golden Knights score with 0.4 seconds left to beat Oilers in Game 3: Takeaways
EDMONTON — The Golden Knights flipped the script on the NHL’s comeback kids Saturday night at Rogers Place.Vegas rallied from an early two-goal deficit to beat Edmonton 4-3 for its first win of the second-round series on a buzzer-beating goal by Reilly Smith with 0.4 seconds left in the game. It came after Connor McDavid tied the game for the Oilers with just over three minutes to play. REILLY SMITH WITH .4 SECONDS LEFT WINS IT FOR VEGAS pic.twitter.com/yhRUHizdh6 — Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) May 11, 2025The win cuts Edmonton’s series lead to 2-1, with the home team yet to win in the series.Corey Perry delivered a perfect start for the Oilers with two goals in the first nine minutes of the game. The 39-year-old showed he still has the scoring touch to open the scoring with a perfectly placed wrist shot […]
This time, Bill Belichick is there for support with Jordon Hudson in Miss Maine spotlight
PORTLAND, Maine — This time, Jordon Hudson was in the spotlight. Instead of wearing a Navy sweatshirt while sitting on the sidelines for her boyfriend Bill Belichick’s recent “CBS Mornings” interview, this time, the 24-year-old Hudson wore an emerald green swimsuit and a purple evening gown with sequins.AdvertisementAs for Belichick, the 73-year-old first-year North Carolina football coach was among the 200 or so spectators on hand for the preliminary round of the 2025 Miss Maine USA pageant, held Saturday night in the main ballroom of the Holiday Inn by the Bay in downtown Portland.The preliminary round, which included contestants for Miss Maine USA and Miss Maine Teen USA, lasted barely 45 minutes. Swimsuit competition. Evening gown competition. Lots of chit-chat from the two hosts. That was about it. Hudson — that is, Miss Hancock, as she was representing the small […]
UFC Hall of Fame class of 2025: Legendary Brazilian champion Vitor Belfort to be inducted into Pioneer Wing
Getty Images As ferocious and exciting a striker as anyone who has ever entered the Octagon, former light heavyweight champion Vitor Belfort will be immortalized this summer with a spot in the UFC Hall of Fame. Belfort (26-14, 1 NC), was emotional while sitting cageside on Saturday at UFC 315 in Montreal when his HOF announcement took place during the pay-per-view. The 48-year-old native of Brazil will enter as the 20th member of the UFC HOF's Pioneer Era Wing, which includes fighters who turned pro before Nov. 17, 2000 (when the unified rules of MMA were adopted). Nicknamed "The Phenom," Belfort made his promotional debut at UFC 12 at the age of 19 when he won a one-night heavyweight tournament and will now gain induction to the HOF on Thursday, June 26, at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, during the promotion's annual […]
NBA Playoffs: Timberwolves surge past the Warriors to take 2-1 series lead as Draymond Green fouls out
In the latest thriller in the 2025 NBA playoffs, the Minnesota Timberwolves overcame a tight matchup with the Golden State Warriors to take a 2-1 lead in the series. A series of late mistakes from the Warriors — turnovers, fouls, missed shots — proved costly, with Golden State falling short 102-97 despite 33 points from Jimmy Butler.After another slower start for Minnesota star Anthony Edwards, the guard came alive in the fourth quarter. The Warriors defensive specialist, Draymond Green, fouled out halfway through the final frame, leaving Edwards free to push the Timberwolves to victory.Minnesota took an early lead, but a 9-0 run from the Warriors in the first quarter put the teams even at 21-21. The two teams kept things close, with Golden State pulling ahead to a 42-40 lead at halftime.AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementWith Curry sidelined, the Warriors' usual threat from […]
Related
Anthony Edwards scores 28 2nd half points to lead Timberwolves past Warriors
<!--> Anthony Edwards hit a baseline 3-pointer with 1:19 remaining and scored 36 points, Julius Randle had a triple-double of 24 points, 12 assists and 10 rebounds, and the Minnesota Timberwolves beat the Golden State Warriors 102-97 on Saturday night for a 2-1 lead in their second-round playoff series.Jimmy Butler had 33 points, seven assists and seven rebounds and Jonathan Kuminga scored 30 off the bench, but the Warriors still lacked the kind of rhythm they have with Stephen Curry on the floor.Kuminga shot 11 for 18 as the Warriors again mixed and matched while playing without Curry as he nurses a strained left hamstring that he injured early in Game 1 on Tuesday.Game 4 is Monday night at Chase Center.Warriors coach Steve Kerr stressed his team had to win with defense — and his team couldn't make the key […]
Astros pitcher Lance McCullers Jr. received threats after start
HOUSTON — Houston Astros starter Lance McCullers Jr. said he and his family received threats on social media following his poor outing during Saturday’s 13-9 loss against the Cincinnati Reds.An Astros spokesman said the team notified both the Houston Police Department and Major League Baseball security about the threats toward McCullers, a 31-year-old right-hander who made his second start of the season on Saturday.Advertisement“It’s been a tough evening,” McCullers said. “I understand people are very passionate and people love the Astros and love sports, but threatening to find my kids and murder them is a little bit tough to deal with.”Astros manager Joe Espada began his postgame news conference with an impassioned opening statement in which he revealed the threats.“I just left my office and it’s very unfortunate that there are people who are threatening his life and the life […]
Golden Knights score with 0.4 seconds left to beat Oilers in Game 3: Takeaways
EDMONTON — The Golden Knights flipped the script on the NHL’s comeback kids Saturday night at Rogers Place.Vegas rallied from an early two-goal deficit to beat Edmonton 4-3 for its first win of the second-round series on a buzzer-beating goal by Reilly Smith with 0.4 seconds left in the game. It came after Connor McDavid tied the game for the Oilers with just over three minutes to play. REILLY SMITH WITH .4 SECONDS LEFT WINS IT FOR VEGAS pic.twitter.com/yhRUHizdh6 — Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) May 11, 2025The win cuts Edmonton’s series lead to 2-1, with the home team yet to win in the series.Corey Perry delivered a perfect start for the Oilers with two goals in the first nine minutes of the game. The 39-year-old showed he still has the scoring touch to open the scoring with a perfectly placed wrist shot […]
This time, Bill Belichick is there for support with Jordon Hudson in Miss Maine spotlight
PORTLAND, Maine — This time, Jordon Hudson was in the spotlight. Instead of wearing a Navy sweatshirt while sitting on the sidelines for her boyfriend Bill Belichick’s recent “CBS Mornings” interview, this time, the 24-year-old Hudson wore an emerald green swimsuit and a purple evening gown with sequins.AdvertisementAs for Belichick, the 73-year-old first-year North Carolina football coach was among the 200 or so spectators on hand for the preliminary round of the 2025 Miss Maine USA pageant, held Saturday night in the main ballroom of the Holiday Inn by the Bay in downtown Portland.The preliminary round, which included contestants for Miss Maine USA and Miss Maine Teen USA, lasted barely 45 minutes. Swimsuit competition. Evening gown competition. Lots of chit-chat from the two hosts. That was about it. Hudson — that is, Miss Hancock, as she was representing the small […]
UFC Hall of Fame class of 2025: Legendary Brazilian champion Vitor Belfort to be inducted into Pioneer Wing
Getty Images As ferocious and exciting a striker as anyone who has ever entered the Octagon, former light heavyweight champion Vitor Belfort will be immortalized this summer with a spot in the UFC Hall of Fame. Belfort (26-14, 1 NC), was emotional while sitting cageside on Saturday at UFC 315 in Montreal when his HOF announcement took place during the pay-per-view. The 48-year-old native of Brazil will enter as the 20th member of the UFC HOF's Pioneer Era Wing, which includes fighters who turned pro before Nov. 17, 2000 (when the unified rules of MMA were adopted). Nicknamed "The Phenom," Belfort made his promotional debut at UFC 12 at the age of 19 when he won a one-night heavyweight tournament and will now gain induction to the HOF on Thursday, June 26, at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, during the promotion's annual […]
NBA Playoffs: Timberwolves surge past the Warriors to take 2-1 series lead as Draymond Green fouls out
In the latest thriller in the 2025 NBA playoffs, the Minnesota Timberwolves overcame a tight matchup with the Golden State Warriors to take a 2-1 lead in the series. A series of late mistakes from the Warriors — turnovers, fouls, missed shots — proved costly, with Golden State falling short 102-97 despite 33 points from Jimmy Butler.After another slower start for Minnesota star Anthony Edwards, the guard came alive in the fourth quarter. The Warriors defensive specialist, Draymond Green, fouled out halfway through the final frame, leaving Edwards free to push the Timberwolves to victory.Minnesota took an early lead, but a 9-0 run from the Warriors in the first quarter put the teams even at 21-21. The two teams kept things close, with Golden State pulling ahead to a 42-40 lead at halftime.AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementWith Curry sidelined, the Warriors' usual threat from […]
Be the first to leave a comment