“I’ve had conflict with all my players,” Pat Riley once opened up to his friend and host Dan Le Batard. He believes that such arguments are almost inevitable when a team’s goal is winning. He believes that it’s part of the team dynamics. As a coach, he led Magic Johnson’s squad to four championships in the 80s. If there’s anyone who understands Riley and his tactics better, it’s the Lakers legend. This is perhaps why a former Heat player sought the 5x NBA champ’s guidance when he began to play under the Godfather.

It was back in 1996 when Riley joined the Miami Heat. And his strict discipline and system nurtured what came to be known as the Heat culture. As intriguing as it is, this culture is still alive in the organization. It is well known to players, even those who never played for the franchise. Former NBA player Gary Payton, too, was aware of Riley’s conditioning-heavy approach for his team. So, how did he handle the situation? Did they have any disagreements?

Speaking on The Jim Jackson Show, The Glove dished out how he hesitated for a while when Riley approached him to join the team. The two even had their fair share of disagreements as Payton admitted that they “bumped heads” a lot. That is likely when he approached Johnson, who had not only played under Riley but also won titles with him. 

“I had to go and talk to Magic Johnson. I had to talk to guys like that to say “Yo how can I deal with this guy about what he’s doing so that I won’t blow up and he won’t blow up?“ Payton admitted. Earlier, in an interview on The Knuckleheads podcast, the former NBA player explained that he became the captain and leader of the team when he joined the Heat. “So I was the only one who had to deal with Pat Riley with a lot of things,” he said.

As a veteran, Payton led the team. He recalled that at one point in 2005, he had to ask the entire team to play their role, including Shaquille O’Neal, who had won three NBA titles with the Lakers, and let Dwyane Wade lead. He knew that the team’s success depended on it. “I told Pat, I said, Man, you gotta get out the room, I said, I gotta take over this team right now,” he recalled.

These clashes must’ve built a chaotic but cohesive environment as the Miami Heat ultimately won its first championship in 2006. Cut to the present, Riley shares a great friendship with Payton as well as Johnson. The former coach’s friendship with the 5x NBA champ was tight even when both were on opposite sides.

Why did Magic Johnson want to impress Pat Riley 

After an era that saw the Lakers dominate under Pat Riley, a new era was ushered in when the former coach ended up on the opposite side. In the 1995–96 season, Riley and Johnson found themselves on the opposite sides.

After the Knicks, Riley had joined the Miami Heat, while Magic Johnson returned to the Lakers after a four-year hiatus. On March 27, 1996, the Lakers and the Heat clashed in a crucial game. The Heat needed a win to stay in the playoff hunt, battling the Charlotte Hornets for the final Eastern Conference spot and it was an equally high stakes game for the Lakers.

Speaking to the press before the game, Johnson revealed that he had already spoken with his friend and former coach, even taking a fiery but friendly jab at him. “We’ve already talked on the phone told him I was going to tear him up,” he said. Like he promised, the Lakers secured a 106-95 win over the Heat. 

In another interview, the former NBA star admitted that he wanted to win the game to impress Riley, whom he has always considered like an older brother. “Pat is like my father and a big brother and you always want to impress your father and your big brother,” he told the Washington Post. While the competition and clashes of opinion was frequent, the legends didn’t let it ruin their friendship.