NBA fines Pat Riley $25K for tampering after comment on LeBron

The NBA has fined Miami Heat president Pat Riley $25,000 after the longtime executive violated the league's anti-tampering rule in a recent interview, the NBA announced Wednesday.

Asked during an appearance on "The Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz" about Heat legend Dwyane Wade potentially returning to the organization in some capacity in the future, Rile apparently misinterpreted the question and thought Le Batard was asking about LeBron James.

"I would leave the key under the doormat if he would call me and let me know that he's coming," Riley said in reference to James, according to the South Florida Sun Sentinel's Ira Winderman. "I would do that. But I doubt very much that key's … that (key) is rusted now."

James, who is currently under contract with the Los Angeles Lakers, won back-to-back championships with the Heat in 2012 and 2013.