Heat president Pat Riley ratcheted the feud to another level later Friday night, supporting his star with a message that needs to be censored.
Boston Celtics president of basketball operations Danny Ainge's comments about LeBron James have caused quite a reaction from the Miami Heat organization.
After Ainge called James' complaints of a double standard from referees "almost embarrassing," James responded Friday morning, saying he wasn't surprised to hear anything coming from Boston.
Heat president Pat Riley ratcheted the feud to another level later Friday night, supporting his star with a message that needs to be censored.
"Danny Ainge needs to shut the f--- up and manage his own team," Riley said. "He was the biggest whiner going when he was playing. I know that because I coached against him."
Adding a layer to the feud: Riley's comments were actually delivered through the Heat's PR department, so they weren't just an off-the-cuff reaction.
Ainge replied later, saying: "He's right, I should manage my own team. I did complain as a player. And I'm right. LeBron should never complain."
How should Ainge and Riley resolve their differences?
"I think they should duke it out," Celtics coach Doc Rivers joked.
He doesn't think anything Ainge or Riley said would impact a potential Celtics-Heat playoff series.
"Not unless they're playing," Rivers said. "Really, I just think it's talk both ways. I'll just let those two grown men handle their grown men argument."