Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James had nothing but praise for Miami Heat president Pat Riley during a media session on Tuesday.
James said Riley is one of the “great minds” in basketball as someone who has won as a coach and an executive. Riley has changed the league:
Lakers star LeBron James called Heat executive Pat Riley one of the great minds ever who has won on every level. “This league is not the same without Riles. Great guy. Great motivator,” James said.
— Marc J. Spears (@MarcJSpears) September 29, 2020
The relationship between LeBron James and Pat Riley is a complicated one.
Riley helped orchestrate the creation of the Big Three in the summer of 2010, with James as the centerpiece. He coaxed James into the idea of playing with Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh, and the Heat subsequently won a pair of championships while reaching the NBA Finals in four consecutive seasons.
However, Riley also criticized James' decision to leave Miami and return to Cleveland in the summer of 2014. At the time, Riley wondered whether it was the biggest mistake of LeBron's professional career.
The comments irked James, who used the criticism as motivation to bring a championship to the Cavs franchise that drafted him.
James would lead a historic comeback over the Golden State Warriors in the 2016 NBA Finals to win his third title.
But while Pat Riley has applauded LeBron James' efforts, he also said a Heat dynasty became impossible as soon as James left:
That said, there is a tremendous amount of respect between these two competitive individuals, and James appreciates Riley as a basketball genius.
For his part, James said there is no extra incentive in beating his former team:
https://twitter.com/highkin/status/1311015107967635457
Then again, LeBron has always been one to keep personal matters close to the chest.
Regardless, LeBron James and the Lakers will have their hands full in the NBA Finals against a Heat team that has seemingly defied all the odds in Orlando.
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