Miami, FL – Monday’s annual media day at Kaseya Center marks the start of another NBA season, but for Miami Heat general manager Andy Elisburg, it also signals the end of an offseason unlike any other.
After a serious infection in his foot late last season escalated into complications affecting his back, knee, liver, and kidneys, Elisburg spent nearly all of May at Baptist Health Doctors Hospital in Coral Gables undergoing multiple surgeries. The life-threatening ordeal also required the partial amputation of his foot.
“I was pretty sick… If I waited another few hours or a day, there might be a whole different story here. I made it out,” Elisburg said.
Road to Recovery
Elisburg, a Heat original employee of 37 years, was bedridden for a month before transferring to Christine E. Lynn Rehabilitation Center for intensive therapy. There, he underwent two physical therapy sessions per day while gradually getting back to work.
He began making draft calls in June and even participated in the first round of the NBA Draft on June 25.
“There’s only so much television I can watch… I need to do something to keep my brain going,” he said.
Despite still using a wheelchair and attending therapy four to six days per week, Elisburg is optimistic about eventually walking on his own again.
“I approach each of these things with the notion that this is what I need to do to get my life back,” he said.
Heat Front Office Support
During Elisburg’s recovery, other Heat executives, including Pat Riley, Adam Simon, and Dave Beyer, took on additional responsibilities to keep the team’s offseason operations on track.
“Andy, do not worry about your job one bit. You have to focus on your health… We will absorb whatever we need to absorb,” Riley and the Arisons told him, Elisburg recalled.
A Season of Gratitude and Determination
Elisburg expressed immense gratitude to the medical staff, friends, and family who supported him throughout the ordeal, including his parents and friend Marjie, who were by his side daily.
Looking forward to the 2025-26 NBA season, Elisburg plans to attend most home games and practices but will likely sit out road trips.
“This is a turning of the chapter… For me now, my next adventure is getting myself up and walking. I’ve gotten to this place. Now that’s the next step,” he said.