Miami’s Heat Culture, the backbone of the franchise, can be described in two ways according to team President Pat Riley, who has been part of 19 of the last 52 NBA Finals either as a player, coach, or executive. “It’s a shared philosophy with the goal of being great,” he said in 2000. “It’s our shared goals, shared vision, shared thoughts,” he added in 2020. And while times change and rosters alter, the Heat and its culture stay pretty much the same. Despite being a buzzword for the team, as well as a punchline for some who disparage it, Heat Culture is something the team is passionate about. It even applied in late May to the United States Patent and Trademark Office to trademark the word “Culture,” with possible uses including on jerseys. The Heat believe in working hard and doing things right, and are renowned for finding and developing undrafted players. They see something in them, and if they are willing to work, the payoff comes. All this started with Riley when he was a player for the Los Angeles Lakers in 1971 and was told by coach Bill Sharman that if he wanted to stay on the team, he would have to be the fittest player. Riley worked hard and loved the payoff, his first NBA Finals and a championship ring in the same season. Times may change, but the Heat’s philosophy remains the same.
Pat Riley’s culture sets the foundation for the Miami Heat’s success.
