MIAMI _ Insisting work remains with the Miami Heat, Pat Riley said Saturday there has been no contact with the Los Angeles Lakers regarding their muddled leadership situation.
Riley, 74, both a championship player and coach with the Lakers, said his only contact was a conversation with Magic Johnson after his former championship point guard stepped down Tuesday as Lakers president.
"I'm not going to comment on another team's misfortune while they're going through some adversity right now," he said, with the Lakers on Friday parting ways with coach Luke Walton. "There's no doubt that I have a history with that team. I was there for 20 years and I have a lot of friends still in the organization.
"I had a good conversation with Magic after he stepped down and I'm sure they'll work it out."
There had been speculation of Riley moving back to California for a role with the Lakers, speculation he addressed during his season-ending media session at AmericanAirlines Arena.
"I'm not going to be part of that. That's not what I want to do," he said. "No. I (don't) want to become the consultant emeritus of doing nothing. Is there a job like that in the league?"
Riley stressed that ongoing priority is the turnaround from the Heat's 39-43 finish this season, with plenty of work remaining at 601 Biscayne Boulevard.
"I'm in the middle of the third quarter of my life," he said.
