No, Pat Riley has still not made any personal comments regarding the case of Jimmy Butler and his trade request. But we know a little more about the Heat manager's vision of the current players, their philosophies and their sense of priorities. In a long interview given to journalist Dan Le Batardrecorded before Jimmy Butler wanted to leave Miami and published Thursday, the president of the Florida franchise notably recalled what he expects from his players, whatever their aspirations.
Pat Riley notably explained that he does not fully identify with the current generation of players, while respecting it… As long as this respect remains in both directions.
“ Be who you want to be, but as one of the great biblical passages says: render unto Caesar the things that are Caesar's » he imagined. “ When the apostles tried to give all their money to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, He told them, 'No, give Caesar what he wants, what he represents, and then give it to others. 'others'. So, as players, they have to give back to the Heat what truly belongs to them too. »
Give and take
Without ever specifically naming Jimmy Butler, it's hard not to think of the current situation in Miami, or even Pat Riley's comments against his All-Star, who felt that New York or Boston would not have made the cut in the playoffs if he had been healthy.
“ If you're not on the court playing the Celtics or the Knicks, then you better shut up » he retorted publicly, pointing the finger at Jimmy Butler's repeated injuries.
“ I explained this to the players, that as long as you are under contract with us, you owe us something. he insisted on the “Dan Batard Show”. “ Your collective agreement says so, so never take it lightly. We have a very cooperative group of people. But yes, I feel like I have to give back to Micky Arison (owner of the Heat, editor's note) because he is my boss. I don't do it in any other way than with respect and I feel the same way about the players. »
Players encouraged by the NBA
Known for his intransigence, both in negotiations and in the Heat's sporting choices, the former player and coach must however make concessions in the face of the NBA and its changing image in recent years.
“ There is nothing you can do about players who want to express themselves in a way that is absolutely contrary to my beliefs as a representative of an organization, whether in an effort to sell and grow as a bigger brand, to make more money, get out there and stand out a little from the pack. The league wants this. Content is king and I've found that if you try to keep the media away, “commissioning” won't allow it. Access to content is all that matters. The personality of players today, the younger generation is just different from what it was when I grew up. »
The Heat boss has probably not changed his mind after the media coverage surrounding the Jimmy Butler case, the information from various media or even the aggressive denial from the player's agent.
For the moment, the former player from Chicago, Minnesota or Philadelphia is still in Miami, where he trains while his teammates continue their trips to the West. The Miami Herald specifies that the franchise fully expects to reinstate the winger at the end of his suspension, on January 17 against Denver. Unless an interesting offer lands on Pat Riley's desk, which has not yet happened, assures the local media…
