Pat Riley laments the missed ‘dynasty’ with LeBron James in Miami

The same night it was Los Angeles Lakers honored Pat Riley with a statue for his time with the franchise, he reflected on LeBron James‘ days with Miami Heat. Hall of Fame center Chris Bosh took offense when James left. Maybe Riley too, who is still thinking what if? LeBron, Bosh and Dwyane Wade won two championships in four seasons before LeBron signed with the Cleveland Cavs in 2014.

Riley believes James could have led the Heat to third titlehe said, according to Anthony Chang of the Miami Herald.

“I thought we got the Big Three — Dwyane, Chris Bosh and especially LeBron — that we finally put together what I thought could be a dynasty,” Riley, 80, said Sunday when asked during a Los Angeles news conference what James’ four-year run with the Heat meant to him.

“It was. Four straight finals, two world championships. It was an incredible run. And as a coach and someone who really thought about how to build that particular team and built it, I saw something that could have lasted eight to 10 years.”

Still, Riley understood James’ decision to return to Cleveland, which ultimately led to the Cavs winning their first championship in franchise history.

“I got it,” Riley said of James’ decision to leave the Heat, now seemingly at peace with the way things played out 12 years after James’ departure. “A job in the NBA is a job in the NBA. Players have a chance to go somewhere else; he went to Cleveland and won a title there. So I wish him nothing but the best.”

“But I’m going to be selfish here and say I’d like to have him for another six or eight years. That would be great. But we’ll never know, will we?”

James won his fourth title, and his first with the Lakers, in 2020.

LeBron James reflects on his departure from the Heat

All-Star LeBron James paid tribute to Heat President Pat Rileywho as head coach led the Lakers to four championships from 1982 to 1988. From his starting position, Riley, who also led the 2006 champion Heat to a title as a coach, wanted James to lead his team to at least three championships.

James was discussing his time with the Heat when a reporter brought up Riley’s comments, as noted by the Miami Herald.

“I never said I was going to go there for four years and decide to go somewhere else,” James told reporters in Los Angeles on Sunday when asked about Riley’s comments. “That’s how the cards played out. But, yeah, it’s human nature to look back and say what could have been. But that’s part of life. Obviously I thought the four years we had were great.”

“We managed to win two championships, we lost two, unfortunately. But a lot of good memories, a lot of great times there. It would be interesting to see what could have happened.”

The Lakers lost to the Celtics 111-89 on Sunday.