NBA fans blast Heat social media for posting pictures of ceremony honoring Pat Riley after loss vs Magic: “Have some shame man”

The Miami Heat honored Pat Riley, the team’s president of basketball operations, who has been with the franchise since 1995 on Wednesday. The Heat home floor became the “Pat Riley Court" at halftime in the team’s season opener against the Orlando Magic. After a star-studded ceremony with several franchise greats in attendance, the Magic ruined the special night.

The Magic steadily punished the hosts as the game progressed. After a tied first quarter, the visitors drubbed the home team in the next two periods 65-40. When Orlando’s lead ballooned to 32 points in the third quarter, the pro-Heat crowd began booing Jimmy Butler and Co.

After the game, the Miami Heat posted on X, formerly Twitter, snapshots of Pat Riley’s special occasion.

Basketball fans promptly reacted to the photos:

“Have some shame man”

@HeatCulture13 commented:

“Not the time.”

One fan said:

“Team didn’t come to play tonight smh”

@BULLGATOR_ ranted:

“As I watch the @MiamiHEAT get manhandled, I see this performance as ironically perfect on the night that Pat Riley gets honored. He was satisfied with this poor roster that snuck into the playoffs and had a 1st round exit. We should expect the same or worse than last season.”

Another fan added:

“Getting spanked by our little brother on this night of all nights is something”

The reactions from fans weren’t surprising considering how little fight the Miami Heat seemingly showed starting the second quarter. Jimmy Butler, the team’s franchise cornerstone for years, ended the night with three points, five assists and rebounds. Bam Adebayo was just as bad, finishing with nine points, five rebounds and one assist. Both of them finished with a plus-minus rating of -30 each, the worst in the game.

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Pat Riley called the Miami Heat’s gesture “beyond my imagination”

Pat Riley spoke to the crowd as the Miami Heat dedicated the home court in his honor. Fans, celebrities and a handful of Heat legends listened to him intently as he shared his thoughts about the occasion.

Riley said:

“This is beyond even my imagination of a reward for a man’s life’s work. We are huge dreamers and Micky [Arison] has made mine. It wasn’t something I wanted or pursued, but I’m going to take it.”

Riley took his talents to South Beach to become the team’s head coach and president of basketball operations. He led the franchise to its first championship in 2006 before handing the coaching reins to his protege, Erik Spoelstra. With “Spo” at the helm, the Heat won two more championships during the “Heatles” era.