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The Miami Heat have long been praised for their culture, which has led to three championships and seven NBA Finals appearances over the past two decades. The 2024-25 season, however, began to show some cracks in that culture as there was an unprecedented amount of drama surrounding the organization.
The Jimmy Butler drama that culminated in him being shipped to the Golden State Warriors and reports that Pat Riley's micromanaging may have ran LeBron James out of town in 2014 hovered over the organization throughout the season. While they were able to navigate the drama and reach the postseason, they were embarrassingly swept in four games by the Cleveland Cavaliers.
The Heat suffered a 55-point loss in Game 4 and were outscored by 122 points in the series, setting an NBA record for the most lopsided series in postseason history. Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Famer Kevin Garnett recently suggested that the organization needs an update to their culture.
"They need a star there, man. Miami don't work if you don't have a star... I would like to see Pat Riley go to the side and anoint Erik Spoelstra," Garnett said on KG Certified Wednesday. "I think they work together... With (Alonzo Mourning) and (Udonis) Haslem and all those ex-players right there, you still got Heat Culture... You got a beautiful city that you can attract a lot of free agents to come. People come to play. It's just about the culture and what you're creating there and the habits that you've shown as a front office. That has to be updated because I don't think the league is being ran how they (do). Miami, since Pat Riley has been there, has seen themselves as a different team within the league. They don’t wear the same socks, they don’t do the same things that everybody do in the league so can I understand how they are looking at it, but it definitely needs an update. And sooner than later."
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Riley has faced criticism, with Stephen A. Smith notably calling for the 80-year-old to retire following their embarrassing showing in the postseason. While that appears unlikely to happen, it is difficult to disagree with Garnett's stance that Heat Culture needs an update.
Butler, who seemingly embraced and embodied the culture that the franchise wanted represented, grew frustrated with the organization for their unwillingness to offer him a contract extension and their inability to add talent to the roster around him. Miami will reportedly be in the market for a star player this offseason as they look to further build their roster around Tyler Herro and Bam Adebayo.
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