You are bound to make a few enemies when you assemble a modern-day dream team.
But Charles Barkley, Orlando Magic general manager Otis Smith and Orlando head coach Stan Van Gundy have gone too far for Miami Heat president Pat Riley, the Miami Herald reports.
Riley addressed the media Friday for the first time since signing the new “Big Three” – LeBron James, Chris Bosh and Dwyane Wade — and he was not happy about what has been said about his newly assembled team.
On July 9, Smith brashly said he “thought [James] was more of a competitor.'' Riley was happy to remind everybody about the Magic’s 2007 offseason.
"He never made any kind of comment like that when he signed Rashard Lewis and brought him down from Seattle to a $128 million contract,” he said.
Riley also expressed disappointment in his former head coach’s comment about Bosh. Van Gundy referred to the center as Wade’s “lapdog” in July.
But no one upset the Heat president as much as Hall of Fame forward Barkley, who was especially vocal about James’ decision and Heat celebratory news conference. Barkley called both “punk moves.”
“Charles Barkley to me went way, way, way over the top taking these personal attacks,” Riley said. “I think Charles is the only guy in the league who can get away with what he gets away with. Calling these guys a bunch of punks is a personal attack. For him to say that is wrong.”
The Heat will have a target on their backs all season. The team and their president better develop tough skin. This is only the beginning.
