The Los Angeles Lakers recently unveiled a statue for Pat Riley to commemorate his contributions to the team during the “Showtime” era.
While Sunday was supposedly about Riley’s time with the Lakers, the team’s former head coach couldn’t help but reminisce about his time coaching and leading Dwyane Wade and the Miami Heat.
Riley took the opportunity to give Wade his flowers and called him the greatest Heat player of all time.
Pat Riley Explains Why Dwyane Wade Is the Heat’s GOAT
During the Lakers’ statue reveal for Riley, the Heat president took the opportunity to recall his time as a head coach. While Riley was known for helping the “Showtime” Lakers bring home five NBA titles as a coach, it seems that he is also proud of his work with the Heat.
In his speech, Riley took the opportunity to give Wade his flowers for helping him establish the Heat as one of the best teams in the NBA. Because of his contributions, Pat considers D-Wade the greatest Heat player of all time.
MORE: Pat Riley Boldly Claims Heat’s Title Window Could’ve Lasted 10 Years With LeBron James, Dwyane Wade
“He came in as a rookie. He was raw, he was great, he was gifted, he was talented, he was cocky, he was sure of himself,” Riley said. “I never saw a young man work harder than Dwyane Wade to become one of the greatest players ever. Definitely the greatest player in the history of the Miami Heat. During the finals in 2006, I started to send him text ‘BIW,’ and he sent a text back ‘???’ And I said ‘Best in the world.’”
Pat Riley says Dwyane Wade is ‘definitely’ the greatest Miami Heat player of all time 🔥
“He came in as a rookie. He was raw, he was great, he was gifted, he was talented, he was cocky, he was sure of himself. I never saw a young man work harder than Dwyane Wade to become one of… https://t.co/K8nE6gG1Ow pic.twitter.com/mD8xlUNGsK
— Heat Central (@HeatCulture13) February 22, 2026
True enough, if Wade never played for the Heat, then the team might have never achieved the success it did several years ago. Wade was responsible for bringing home the Heat’s first title in franchise history.
KEEP READING: Pat Riley Puts Heat Legend Dwyane Wade Alongside Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant: ‘What a Competitive Attitude’
He then proceeded to win a couple more when LeBron James decided to team up with D-Wade. While James was often seen as the Heat’s leader during the two stars’ time together, there’s a very strong argument to be made that LeBron wouldn’t have won those championships for Miami if it weren’t for Wade’s help.
With all that in mind, Wade will forever be imprinted in the Heat’s history. He is currently the only player to have been a part of all of the franchise’s championships, making him the undeniable GOAT of the team’s first four decades in existence.
