Pat Riley denies calling Tom Thibodeau F-word

Pat Riley issued a statement on Friday to deny dropping an F-bomb on Tom Thibodeau.

ESPN Los Angeles radio host Jorge Sedano, who used to be a Miami Heat pregame host, reported on the radio this week that Riley called Thibodeau a “motherf—er” for trying to squeeze him on a trade for Jimmy Butler that seemed to nearly be agreed to.

According to Sedano, the medicals had been exchanged, and then Thibodeau called Riley back and asked for more draft picks. That meshes with what was previously reported about the trade talks breaking down between the Miami Heat and Minnesota Timberwolves.

“As to what has been reported in the past 24 hours, I have too much respect for Tom Thibodeau and all that he’s accomplished in this league… Our conversations have been nothing but cordial and I have never used that kind of language in negotiations, but I do admit to telling Danny Ainge to,” Riley said in a statement.

The Heat president didn’t complete his statement, but you can get filled in on his whole exchange with Danny Ainge here.

By referencing a past incident where he dropped an F-word, Riley seems to be telling everyone that he isn’t afraid to use a curse word when necessary, which is why we should take his word for it in this case.

He must really want Jimmy Butler badly.