Miami Heat legend Dwyane Wade and Udonis Haslem recently discussed how Pat Riley was affected by LeBron James' decision to leave in 2014
The Miami Heat are 12 years removed from the greatest era in franchise history.
That was when LeBron James, Chris Bosh and Dwyane Wade were the center of the NBA universe from 2010-14. They won two championships in four straight appearances in the Finals.
And then it all disappeared with one decision.
In the summer of 2014, after losing to the San Antonio Finals in the Finals, James decided to return to play for the Cleveland Cavaliers. Just like his choice to play for the Philadelphia 76ers last week, it was a shocking move then.
The Heat were completely caught off guard, especially team president Pat Riley. Heat legend Udonis Halsem recently held a discussion about it on the OG's podcast with Mike Miller and Wade.
Haslem said the James decision left a "dark cloud" over the organization. It was definitely deflating to the Heat because the organization was in sort of disarray for the next five years.
They dealt with mostly mediocrity for the next four years, relying on the likes of developmental projects Hassan Whiteside and Tyler Johnson to anchor the team. It wasn't until the arrival of Jimmy Butler in summer of 2019 when things finally turned around.
Butler led the Heat to Finals appearances in 2020 and 2023 but was unable to accomplish the championships like James.
Wade said the organization should have simply just appreciated James instead of getting upset. He felt Riley took a business decision too personal. According to Wade, it got to the point of him and Riley bumping heads over it.
That would have pit two of the most popular figures in franchise history against each other. How crazy is that?
“The man [James] came here, he conquered," Wade said. "The man did what he was supposed to do here, but Pat Riley was really into his feelings about it, I was shocked, cause me and Riley almost got into it in practice one day.”
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