Pat Riley trusted LeBron to run point for the Heat: "It isn't something that he has to learn"

Pat Riley trusted LeBron to run point for the Heat: “It isn’t something that he has to learn” originally appeared on Basketball Network.

By the time the “Big 3” Miami Heat came together in 2010, Pat Riley had spent more than four uninterrupted decades in the NBA. From player to head coach to executive, the Godfather had seen just about everything basketball could throw at him.

So when the idea surfaced that newly signed LeBron James — fresh off back-to-back MVPs — might handle point guard duties for Miami, Riley didn’t blink.

Unconventional? Sure. For others. But for Pat, handing LeBron the keys was just another day at the office.

Point guard puzzle

When James, Dwyane Wade, and Chris Bosh teamed up with the Heatles, there was never any doubt the Heat would contend for a title immediately. The real question was how they’d line up.

Nowhere was the intrigue bigger than at point guard. Erik Spoelstra, still early in his head coaching career, had a superteam on paper, but no clear floor general.

The options were veterans Mike Bibby and Carlos Arroyo, plus Mario Chalmers, who’d started the previous season. None — respectfully — screamed “championship starter,” especially when lined up next to three future Hall of Famers.

The solution? Perhaps an unconventional one. Since point forward was arguably King James’ best position, the idea of letting the NBA superstar showcase his playmaking skills full-time at point guard was on the table.

Bron becoming Miami’s primary ball handler?

LBJ’s history with running the point goes way back. Back at St. Vincent-St. Mary High, he was the starting point guard as a freshman. Then, after entering the league as the Cleveland Cavaliers’ top pick in 2003, the Ohio native occasionally returned to that role throughout his career.

Six weeks before the Heat’s season opener against the Celtics, Riley highlighted this history, stressing how natural the position is for James.

“It would not be a stretch for LeBron,” he said, per ESPN. “LeBron was basically a natural point guard until he was 15, 16 years old. … So it isn’t something that he has to learn.”

Even without that early experience, few players could have transitioned to the point guard spot seamlessly as Bron.

Poised to enter a record-breaking 23rd season, James pairs elite court vision and basketball IQ with rare physical tools. Standing 6’9″, he runs the floor like a seasoned floor general — setting the pace, making sharp decisions, and controlling the game’s flow. Add his mix of speed, strength, and explosiveness, and you’ve got a point guard built like a video game character.

The stats tell the story: the basketball icon is averaging seven assists per contest, with a career-best 10.2 during the 2019-20 season with the Los Angeles Lakers.

Still, Miami had options. Wade and Mike Miller — both shooting guards with reliable ball handling — provided alternatives beyond James at the point. Riley wasn’t worried, saying, “It wouldn’t be a stretch for anyone.”

In fact, it was a luxury problem for the South Beach team, which they solved by staying flexible and rotating players. Over the season, James, Wade, and Miller all handled the ball, often accompanied on the floor by one true point guard: Chalmers (28 starts), Arroyo (42 starts), or Bibby (12 starts).

Ultimately, the modern NBA thrives on flexible, free-flowing lineups, and the Heatles embraced that early, finishing the regular season 58-24 and reaching the NBA Finals.

This story was originally reported by Basketball Network on Jul 6, 2025, where it first appeared.

Pat Riley trusted LeBron to run point for the Heat: “It isn’t something that he has to learn”

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