The opening game of the 1997-1998 season, Rose Garden Arena, Miami Heat vs. Portland Trail Blazers.
Pat Riley stood on the sideline, with his immaculately slicked-back hair and a crisp Armani suit.
His physique hadn't changed at all, no signs of weight gain, no belly, still as dashing as ever.
The additional wrinkles on his forehead and at the corners of his eyes bore witness to the passage of time; he had already been with the Heat for 10 years.
Ten years, two Finals appearances, one championship, building a strong team from scratch on a blank slate; Riley's achievements are worthy of praise.
He relied on a superstar strategy, focusing on attracting superstars from other teams, building a superteam, and applying methods to rapidly expand the team.
To him, draft picks were merely resources for trading superstars, a team-building model in the NBA that could be seen as pioneering, offering inspiration to teams that followed.
