Report: Pat Riley Says He Would Remain With Miami Heat Even If Lakers Pursued Him

By Brady Klopfer
Updated: May 20, 2019

Steve Mitchell / USA TODAY Sports

Miami Heat team president Pat Riley is very happy staying put.

The NBA legend claims that he was never approached by the Los Angeles Lakers about an executive position this offseason. Just as importantly, Riley said that he would not have accepted a job with the Lakers even if it had been offered.

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Pat Riley told ESPN's Jackie MacMullan today that the Lakers never pursued him this off-season to run their front office. Riley said April 13 that whether he was pursued or not, he would remain with Heat

— Barry Jackson (@flasportsbuzz) May 20, 2019

The Lakers have had a tumultuous offseason. Magic Johnson, the team’s president of basketball operations, abruptly quit just a few days after the season ended.

There were rumors that Los Angeles would pursue Riley as a replacement. The team has since said that it will not fill the position.

Riley has a history with the Lakers as he spent parts of six seasons as a player in Los Angeles. After his playing career, Riley became an assistant coach with the Lakers for three years.

He then became the head coach of Los Angeles and stayed with the team for nine years. Riley and the Lakers won four NBA titles during that span.

Despite his history with Los Angeles, Riley is happy in Miami, where he has plenty of history as well. The Hall of Fame inductee coached the Heat for 11 seasons, including the 2005-06 championship run.

He has been president of the Heat ever since he stopped coaching in 2008. And it looks like he’ll be president for a while longer.
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