Spoelstra goal: Walk in Riley’s footsteps
Heat coach, in podcast, says he’d like to lead the franchise in the future.
MIAMI — Erik Spoelstra usually doesn’t like to speak about himself.self
Tha That’t’s wh whyh it waswa su surprrprisisinging to hear Spoelstra discuss numerous topics that had to do with his life — pre-Heat and since he joined the Heat organization — during an appearance on The Vertical Podcast with Adrian Wojnarowski that lasted nearly two hours. On the podcast, which was released Friday, the 46-year-old Spoelstra said he could see hims el f — one day down the road — leading an NBA franchise in a Pat Riley- type role. And Spoelst r a wo u l d l i k e t o have t hat ro l e with the Heat.
“I ’ m a P a t Riley disciple,” Spoelstra said when Wojnarowski asked him if that type of position appealed to him. “He’s always pushed me and nurtured me for the next step, so yes. I would love to have that opportunity years down the line for the Arison family because I believe in them so much as human beings. They’re such good people and family-oriented.”
But it doesn’t seem like Riley is stepping down from his role as the Heat’s president anytime soon. In an interview with ESPN, the 72-year-old Riley said he signed a fifive- year extension with the Heat last year with the understanding that he “can work anywhere, including his perch overlooking the Pacifific (at his home in south-