Dedication 30 Years in the Making
A long time fan and season ticket holder's view of the dedication of the Kaseya Center floor to the Miami Heat's most iconic figure not named Dwayne Wade. The ceremony took place on October 23, 2024.
On Wednesday evening, October 23,2024, the floor at the Kaseya Center in Miami, Florida, was dedicated to the architect of the Miami Heat over the past 30 years. When Pat Riley was hired by Mickey Arison, CEO of the Miami Heat and former CEO of Carnival Cruise Lines, the team was a fledgling NBA franchise looking for an identity and seeking relevance. Prior to Riley taking over the Heat, a franchise which was founded in 1988, the team had only two playoff appearances and one winning season. That all changed on September 2, 1995.
During the press conference of his introduction, Pat Riley described his vision for what he wanted to deliver for the City of Miami when he said “I imagine in my mind about the symbolic championship parade. Maybe right down Biscayne Boulevard.” Riley was not only about a lofty vision, but brought an established resume of building championship teams.
His hiring generated a lot of excitement and an immediate sense of hope for the Miami Heat fan base. Over the course of his first ten years with the Heat, Riley made bold trades and shook up the roster he inherited to construct a championship caliber team. However, it wasn’t until he struck gold with the 5th pick of the 2003 NBA draft, when he selected Dwayne Wade out of Marquette, and then made a big trade with the Los Angeles Lakers to acquire Shaquille O’Neal in 2004, that his blueprint for a championship was established.
The team made it to Eastern Conference Finals during the 2004 -05 season, then built on that progress during the 2005 – 06 season when they won their first championship in franchise history defeating the Dallas Mavericks in six games. As promised, Riley led the Miami Heat organization in a championship parade down Biscayne Boulevard in front of an estimated 250,000 adoring fans.
Perhaps his most significant accomplishment was assembling the Miami Heat’s big three era. While Dwayne Wade was instrumental in convincing Chris Bosh and Lebron James to join him in Miami, it was Pat Riley’s gravitas that closed the deal. The Miami Heat participated in four consecutive NBA Finals from 2010 – 2014, winning championships in 2012 and 2013. While the championship in 2012 was Pat Riley’s sixth ring, five as a coach and one as general manager / president, it was Lebron James’ first, prompting him to exclaim “It’s about damn time.” James was MVP of the 2012 and 2013 NBA Finals.
Under Pat Riley’s stewardship, the Miami Heat were unexpected NBA Final’s participants in 2020 and 2023, showcasing Riley’s second act as general manager and president of one of the NBA’s most intriguing franchises. While the team lost both series, Riley’s fire and persistence to build another championship in Miami is unwavering as we enter the 2024 – 25 season. He has his work cut out for him, but no one should bet against the man that many in Miami simply refer to as the ‘Godfather’.
The dedication ceremony included many players and long-time figures associated with the Miami Heat during the franchise’s storied history. It was during Pat Riley’s speech where he reflected on his career and his time in Miami that showcased why the man has been so beloved over the past 30 years. As his speech concluded, any long time and loyal Miami Heat fan could only feel one way about the dedication: “It’s about damn time.”