Mike Krzyzewski encouraged Shane Battier to sign with the Heat last summer.

“(Krzyzewski) was the one who wanted me to go to Miami more than anyone else,” Battier said. “In the end, like always, he was right.”

Battier played at Duke while Nick Arison, son of Heat owner Micky Arison, was a student-manager. Nick Arison is now the Heat’s chief executive officer.

“We all knew Nick was going to move into the front office of the Heat. I remember as a senior I said, ‘If you guys need a small forward, keep me in mind,’” Battier said. “Last summer was the first summer of free agency in my career, and it was really cool to be able to call up a friend and say, ‘Let’s win a championship together.’”