After the Miami Heat’s season, team president Pat Riley didn’t shy away from acknowledging the internal challenges that plagued the organization.
Chief among them was the deteriorating relationship between the front office and former franchise star Jimmy Butler.
“There’s no doubt what happened with Jimmy had a tremendous impact on our team,” Riley said during his end-of-season press conference. “The buck stops with me. I’ll take that hit if you want it.”
Although Riley declined to go into detail about the regular-season drama, his acknowledgment marked a rare public admission of just how deeply off-court issues can affect team performance.
The once-promising partnership between Butler and the Heat, known for their shared intensity and competitive drive, clearly unraveled behind the scenes, ultimately derailing the team’s cohesion and playoff hopes.
Heat's Pat Riley Discusses Butler, Roster, Tax, Herro, More https://t.co/HjLIXwPGI2 pic.twitter.com/1CheZqu48r
— Hoops Rumors (@HoopsRumors) May 10, 2025
