Pat Riley has hinted at a completely new direction for the Miami Heat in the upcoming season. The team had come into the season with a lot of expectations. However, things went completely haywire. With 45 losses and only 37 wins, the Heat put up a sorry performance. However, all of these are likely to change. And it will change quite rapidly.
In a recent statement, Pat Riley stated that Heat will be moving on completely from their ‘Run It Back’ culture. Hinting at a major shake up in the 2026 roster, Riley made it clear that there will be some significant strict decisions coming in.
“RIB. Run it back. We’re probably not going to do that… Players aren’t just going to show up. You have to make deals,” said Riley.
"RIB. Run it back. We're probably not going to do that… Players aren't just going to show up. You have to make deals."
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) May 9, 2025
Pat Riley on the Heat's roster in 2026 🗣️
(via @MiamiHEAT / YouTube)pic.twitter.com/zulJoGwCLG
Now, this announcement comes in as a significant surprise. Since the time the Heat played the NBA finals in 2020, the roster has not undergone any drastic changes. But this time around, the only duo that might be retained are Bam Adebayo and Tyler Herro. Meanwhile, one of the biggest reasons for the Heat’s fallout this year was Jimmy Butler.
Pat Riley And Jimmy Butler Had An Ugly Spat
Jimmy Butler has been one of the biggest names in the NBA for years. Seen as an icon for the Miami Heat, Butler had been pivotal in taking the team to new heights. However, things soon started to go haywire between the two. While Butler publicly asked for a trade from the Heat, he was slapped with a ban.
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"I have nothing to say to Pat, and Pat better have nothing to say to me"
— NBA on TNT (@NBAonTNT) March 25, 2025
Jimmy Butler had this to say to @TaylorRooks ahead of his return to Miami 🫣 pic.twitter.com/RSdPUeBamA
And this was not all. Butler faced as many as three bans that prompted him to change his team ultimately. Butler also had some heated exchanges with Pat Riley. Ultimately, signing for the Golden State Warriors, Butler is currently playing in the conference semifinals. On the contrary, with drastic reform hinted at, it remains to be seen what happens next.
Also Read: What Is Exactly ‘Heat Culture’? Breaking Down Pat Riley’s Blueprint For Sustained NBA Success
