Miami Heat President Pat Riley, was fined $ 25,000 by the NBA on Wednesday for violating the league’s anti-tampering rules when commenting Friday about a possible return to his team from Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James.
Lebron won the first two of his four career NBA titles in 2012 and 2013 with Miami. This season, the Lakers star suffered with the elimination of his team in the first round of the playoffs against the Phoenix Suns.
Riley, according to the Miami Herald and Sun-Sentinel newspapers, he joked about leaving LeBron a key under the rug if he ever wanted to return to the Heat.
“I’d leave the key under the rug if you call me and let me know you’re coming,” Riley said. “I would do that. But I highly doubt the key is … that key is rusty now.”
“LeBron is one of the best of all time,” Riley said, recalling James’ “four years of excitement, two championships” in Miami.
“LeBron is one of the best of all time,” Riley said, recalling James’ “four years of excitement, two championships” in Miami.
“So I wish him nothing but the best, and if he ever wanted to come back, I’ll put a shiny new key under the rug,” Riley added.
Riley, 76, even predicted his fate after his comments about LeBron, 36, who has a contract with the Lakers for the next two seasons.
The Heat president advanced the league’s stance by closing his comment. “I will only be fined for tampering,” Riley concluded in the radio interview.
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