Spoelstra’s message on Riley court honor. And Garnett on Adebayo, Reggie Miller on Heat

Beginning Wednesday, NBA players won’t only be driving and dribbling over corporate sponsorship signage on the Kaseya Center court.

They’ wil also be sprinting over an inscription of Heat president Pat Riley’s signature.

The Heat on Wednesday will dedicate the Kaseya Center court to its 30-year president and the architect of three Heat championship teams. His signature will be to the left of the words “Pat Riley court at Kaseya Center.” Halftime will be extended 10 minutes to celebrate the honor.

“It’s going to be a really special night,” coach Erik Spoelstra said. “I’m looking forward to it. It’s a really cool thing that we all get to be a part of. We get to make him uncomfortable for a night. He doesn’t like all this attention. He has pushed us in so many ways out of our comfort zones over the years. We get to flip the tables on him, shine the light on him, celebrate him....

“What we were joking about on the sidelines is if any of our players [see] a loose ball anywhere near that name, you better be going down head first and come up with that ball.”

Meanwhile, Jimmy Butler said of Riley: “What he’s done for the league, what’s he’s done for this organization, the amount of respect he’s earned from every individual that has came through here, home team, away team, it’s only right his name is on the court. I’m grateful for allowing me to be me while I’m here and trusting in me to help us win some games.”

ADEBAYO ON PERCEPTIONS

While several national pundits, including TNT’s Stan Van Gundy, have dismissed the Heat as a potential factor this season, Bam Adebayo is heartened by respect shown by other NBA players.

“When I talk to players around the league, they understand what it is,” Adebayo said Tuesday. “The national attention is cool. When you have the people you go against respect you all to where, ‘you all can still be an eighth seed, seventh seed or fifth seed, and make it to the Eastern Conference finals or the Finals,’ that’s what really matters.”

Adebayo indicated he feels heightened anticipation for this season. “We had a long offseason,” he said “…That’s given people a lot more to be excited about.”

Spoelstra, for his part, said: “I’m as excited to start this season as I have been in a while.”

THIS AND THAT

Former Celtics star Kevin Garnett, speaking about Adebayo in the “All the Smoke” podcast recently:

“He [doesn’t] get enough credit. He’s solid,... A1 as it comes. He’ll be the reason Miami takes that crazy jump. I think he has another level in him.”

▪ Like his colleague Van Gundy, TNT analyst Reggie Miller also has doubts about the Heat. But he said on a conference call that he still believes Miami can “beat anyone” if everything goes right.

“I question if they’re top six, and the East is really bad,” Miller said. “... But if Jimmy Butler can be special and stay healthy. It’s a contract year for Jimmy. And as we know in contract years, most players play their best and are on their best behavior.

“Last year, he was going through drama, the passing of his father. There were certain external factors that contributed to the head of Jimmy Butler.

“Tyler Herro only played 42 games. Can he play 70 to 75 games for them? For a young player, there have been a lot of injuries for him... Same with Terry Rozier. You make the trade for him, he was injury-riddled. Can he stay healthy and compete?”

Miller said “losing Caleb Martin [to Philadelphia] is devastating. I thought he was fantastic, especially that run to the Finals a couple years ago.

“There are a lot of external things that have to happen for the Heat to be special. If they find a way to make the playoffs and they’re healthy, and if Butler’s head is on straight, they can beat anyone. But it’s getting there; that’s the key... We know.. they’re well coached.”

Here are more Tuesday Heat notes, including more on Riley’s call for his best players to be better, and how that can happen.