After generating headlines early in the season with an innovative offense, the Miami Heat ran out of steam and failed to make the 2026 NBA Playoffs.
That didn’t sit well with Heat president Pat Riley, who built the franchise into an Eastern Conference powerhouse over the last 20 years. On Monday, Riley shared his thoughts on another lost season for the organization.
Pat Riley Sounds Off on the State of the Miami Heat
Riley expressed his frustration multiple times during his season-ending news conference.
“I’m pissed and disappointed, disgruntled, just like everybody else in the organization that understands what we are about: winning. The last three or four years has been something I’m not proud of, that we’re not proud of. We’ve always been a team that competes to win.”
The Heat finished the season with a 43-39 record, but failed to make the playoffs after suffering a tough overtime loss to the Charlotte Hornets in the Play-In Tournament. The loss was symbolic of the Heat’s fall down the standings over the last few weeks of the regular season. The Heat lost 10 of their last 15 games, something Riley said was “astounding.”
The organization was undergone a significant drop-off since winning the Eastern Conference and making the NBA Finals in 2023. They haven’t won a playoff series since, and the trade of former franchise player Jimmy Butler III was seen as a major turning point.
Some NBA observers have called for Riley to step aside, but the nine-time NBA champion said that is not happening.
“I love what I’m doing. I love the people I am working with. I love competition. I love this franchise,” he said. “Don’t think I haven’t thought about [retiring]. I’m at 81 years old. I’m aging up. Micky or Nick [Arison] will decide whether I age out. … I want another parade down Biscayne Boulevard.”
Period. pic.twitter.com/cBGJvCAsNs
— Miami HEAT (@MiamiHEAT) April 27, 2026
Erik Spoelstra is still considered one of the best head coaches in the league, and he completely overhauled the team’s offense this season. The fast-paced, quick-action offense helped the Heat finish the regular season second in the league in scoring at 120.9 points per game.
The Heat made national headlines when three-time All-Star Bam Adebayo scored 83 points against the Washington Wizards on March 10. Riley said the team plans to continue building around Adebayo, labeling him as “untouchable.”
Riley probably wasn’t pleased with Miami’s defensive shift, as the Heat have always been known as a gritty defensive team. However, the Heat finished 22nd in the regular season in scoring defense after finishing in the top 10 the previous two seasons. The Heat also slipped out of the top 10 in defensive rating for the first time in several seasons.
As for what’s next, Riley said that the team will look for “top-end bucket-getting talent” and “overall length,” while making it clear that he intends to be “aggressive as hell to try to make the team better.”
“I’m not going to tank. I can’t stand the word,” Riley added. “I will quit if I get ordered to go down that road. … We tried, more than you even know, to get better. We’re at a period right now where you don’t make radical changes right now. We’re not going to tank and do that insanity.”
