Miami Heat mastermind Pat Riley just turned 80 years old and was celebrated by everyone across the NBA for the impact he has had on multiple teams.
Riley has had a sensational and historic career, but is it time that he thinks about retirement?
Speaking on “Run It Back,” Lou Williams suggested that maybe Riley be held to the same standard that players are.
“When you’re 80 years old, there are things that you probably don’t understand or get when it comes to the culture of players,” Williams said, per NBACentral.
Lou Williams says Pat Riley moves on from aging players—and the Heat should do the same to him.
“When you’re 80 years old, there are things that you probably don’t understand or get when it comes to the culture of players.”
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Williams noted that Riley is the very same person who chooses to move on from players when they reach a certain age, so doesn’t it make sense that the same thing happens to him?
At 80, can he really be in touch with current players and the modern league?
A lot of Heat fans would say the answer to that is yes and that Riley remains a pivotal part of the franchise and a brilliant mind.
Others might agree with Williams, especially when you look at the current state of the team.
Would Williams be arguing this if the Heat weren’t the 10th team in the East?
If they were doing better, he might be praising Riley, saying that despite his age he still knows what it takes to make a team competitive.
Instead, he is wondering if retirement should be right around the corner.
Riley has surely considered this and he has probably had conversations with his staff and family that we may never know about.
Because he loves the game and his team so much, he may get to the point when he agrees with Williams, thinks about his age and his place in the NBA, and steps away.
