NBA fines Heat president Pat Riley $25K for comments about LeBron James
The NBA announced on Wednesday that Miami Heat president Pat Riley has been fined $25,000 for violating the league's anti-tampering rules.
The following was released by the NBA. pic.twitter.com/TkLd0pafJH
— NBA Communications (@NBAPR) June 9, 2021
Riley is being fined specifically for comments he made about LeBron James and the possibility of him returning to the Heat sometime in the future.
“I would leave the key under the doormat if he would call me and let me know that he’s coming,” Riley said Friday in an interview on Dan Le Batard’s radio show, via the New York Post. “I would do that, but I doubt very much that key…That key is rusted now.
“LeBron, look, he’s one of the greatest of all time, and for four years down here, if we want to go back and remember what those four years were like, it was four years in the Finals, four years of excitement, two world championships…It was the best time for the Heat. So I wish him nothing but the best, and if he ever wanted to come back, I’ll put a new shiny key under the mat.”
Riley may be happy to welcome LeBron back to Miami if he wants to return, but the NBA doesn't want him talking about that into a microphone. Riley already knew that, and actually predicted it would happen.
“This will just get me fined for tampering,” he said.
However, he may not have to pay it himself. Le Batard thinks the whole thing is "stupid" and offered to pay Riley's fine.
Hell out of here. This is stupid. He saw a UFO that night, too. Fine him for that. Drinking with friends on a Friday night. He misunderstood the question. @DraftKings, you want to pay this party tab? Or you want me to take care of it this time? — Dan https://t.co/4KgcFt3ie7
— Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz (@LeBatardShow) June 9, 2021
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