However, he was not able to play up to the same level as the Heat struggled and lost 23 of their first 28 games, including a 12-game losing streak between November and December.
They would recover from their awful start and play above .500 for the remainder of the season, winning nine of their next twelve games.
However, the Heat finished sixth in the Atlantic Division with a 36–46 record, missing the playoffs for the first time since the 1994–95 season.
This season also marks the first time in Pat Riley's coaching career that he failed to get his team into the playoffs.
For the season, the Heat added new red alternate road uniforms with black side panels, which remained in use until 2010,[31] while the shorts were slightly redesigned in 2009.