Miami Heat President Pat Riley gestures on the court during the 2006 NBA Finals 20th anniversary celebration at Kaseya Center on February 03, 2026.

Miami Heat President Pat Riley celebrates the 20th anniversary of the 2006 NBA Finals title during halftime against the Atlanta Hawks on February 03, 2026. (Photo by Megan Briggs/Getty Images)

Miami Heat President Pat Riley Not Retiring, Plans To Keep Building Around Bam Adebayo

Ashish MathurApril 27, 2026 5:07 PM

DHJ Quick Take

No Departure Plans: Despite the Heat missing the playoffs for the first time since 2019, Pat Riley explicitly stated he has no intention of retiring or resigning, citing the same competitive drive he had when he joined the franchise 31 years ago.
Championship Ambitions: Riley remains focused on winning “big,” expressing a singular goal of holding another championship parade down Biscayne Boulevard.
Building Around Adebayo: The team president confirmed his commitment to the current roster’s core by stating he will continue to build the team’s future around star center Bam Adebayo.

Miami Heat president Pat Riley conducted his end-of-the-season press conference on Monday and the Hall of Famer told reporters he is not retiring or resigning and that he will continue to build around All-Star Bam Adebayo.

The Heat missed the playoffs this season for the first time since 2019.

“I’m not going to retire. I’m not going to resign,” Riley said. “I’m not going to step aside. When I came here almost 31 years ago, I have the same attitude as I had in that press conference on the [cruise ship] Imagination. Period. I want another parade down Biscayne Boulevard. It may come. It may not. It has always been my desire to win, to win big. I’m not going down that road talking about [retiring]. I just clarified it’s not going to happen unless something happens that I can’t control.”

Adebayo averaged 20.1 points, 10.0 rebounds, 3.2 assists, 1.2 steals and 0.7 blocks per game for the Heat this season. He scored 83 points against the Washington Wizards on March 10. The talented two-way star has spent his entire NBA career with Miami.

Unless the Heat get Victor Wembanyama from the San Antonio Spurs, Adebayo isn’t leaving South Beach, per Riley.

“I want to build this around Bam,” Riley said. “I am just going to give you a flat-out no, I wouldn’t do that. Unless somebody gave me eight picks and Wemby. … We are in a period right now, you don’t make radical changes right now, not in my philosophy. I am not going to tank. We are not going to lose. We are not going into the lottery and do that insanity because I will quit — if I ever get ordered to go down that road. I am always thinking of ways to win.

“Now all I can give you is a bunch of excuses. And I don’t want to do that. We are just not good enough. We are not happy with it. This is the first time in those three years that we have an opportunity to do something with our roster, with our flexibility, with our players.”

The Heat tried to trade for Milwaukee Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo in February. Riley is expected to pursue Antetokounmpo again this offseason, sources told Dallas Hoops Journal.

Miami hasn’t won a championship since 2013. The franchise went to the NBA Finals in 2020 and 2023 with Adebayo and Jimmy Butler leading the way, but the Heat lost both times.

“I love this franchise, period,” Riley said. “I love what we’ve built here over 30 years. One day it [retirement] will happen. Don’t think that I haven’t thought about it. I’ve thought about it. I’m aging up. I’m at 81 years old now. That’s aging up. I think Micky and Nick [Arison] will decide whether or not I age out; leave that to them. But I love what I’m doing.

“I’m really pissed. I’m disappointed. Disgruntled. Just like everybody else in the organization that understands what we are about — about winning. The last three or four years, with exception of the ’23 season when we got all the way to the Finals, has been something that I am not, we are not proud of. Always trying to compete at the highest levels… We are always going to try to win. If we are competing for the last spot in the play-in, we will fight to the very last breath.”