Heat post premature welcome for LeBron James ahead of free agency decision
Yahoo Sports • 1 min read • Latest: Jul 22, 2026, 4:01 AM
Last updated Jul 22, 2026
The Miami Heat's social media team posted a welcoming announcement for LeBron James, which was later taken down. The post included details about a supposed introductory press conference on July 27. The blunder occurred as the Heat's basketball operations were unaware, highlighting the team's mantra to 'stay ready.' James' agent Rich Paul indicated there is no set timeline for announcing his free agency decision. After the erroneous post, the Heat's chances of re-signing James varied in prediction markets, falling from 55.5% back to 43%.
- •Heat's social media mistakenly posted LeBron welcoming announcement
- •Post was regarding a press conference on July 27
- •Agent Rich Paul states no definitive timing for the decision
- •Prediction markets showed fluctuating odds for James' return to the Heat
- •Pat Riley is traveling and will return to South Florida in August
- 11:31 PMYahoo Sports — Heat say social-media post welcoming LeBron James was a mistake
- 4:01 AMYahoo Sports — Heat hold true to staying ready with premature post of LeBron welcoming
"It is a Miami Heat mantra that has been in place since Pat Riley’s arrival as franchise steward in 1995: “Stay ready so you don’t have to get ready.” Such was the plan by the Heat’s social-media wing on Tuesday, albeit unbeknownst by the team’s basketball side. With the only problem being LeBron James still wasn’t ready when it came to his NBA free-agency decision. In preparation for staying ...
"It is a Miami Heat mantra that has been in place since Pat Riley’s arrival as franchise steward in 1995: “Stay ready so you don’t have to get ready.” Such was the plan by the Heat’s social-media wing on Tuesday, albeit unbeknownst by the team’s basketball side. With the only problem being LeBron James still wasn’t ready when it came to his NBA free agency decision. In preparation for staying ...
Sources
External links- Yahoo SportsJul 22, 2026, 11:31 PMHeat say social-media post welcoming LeBron James was a mistake
It is a Miami Heat mantra that has been in place since Pat Riley’s arrival as franchise steward in 1995: “Stay ready so you don’t have to get ready.” Such was the plan by the Heat’s social-media wing on Tuesday, albeit unbeknownst by the team’s basketball side. With the only problem being LeBron James still wasn’t ready when it came to his NBA free-agency decision. In preparation for staying ...
- Yahoo SportsJul 22, 2026, 4:01 AMHeat hold true to staying ready with premature post of LeBron welcoming
It is a Miami Heat mantra that has been in place since Pat Riley’s arrival as franchise steward in 1995: “Stay ready so you don’t have to get ready.” Such was the plan by the Heat’s social-media wing on Tuesday, albeit unbeknownst by the team’s basketball side. With the only problem being LeBron James still wasn’t ready when it came to his NBA free agency decision. In preparation for staying ...
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