- Bam Adebayo reveals he didn’t recruit Donovan Mitchell to Miami Heat
- Former NBA executive says Bam Adebayo’s defense has not been as ‘fearsome’ this season as it was in previous 2 campaigns
- Report: Omer Yurtseven cleared for high-impact work with hope to return after All-Star break
- Brian Windhorst thinks the Miami Heat need to make a trade because they have ‘one of the worst benches in the league’
- Report: Teams continue to call Miami Heat to gauge Kyle Lowry’s trade status
- Jimmy Butler makes heartfelt post for kid who traveled far to see him play: ‘Incredible kid that has an amazing life ahead of him’
- Kyle Lowry speaks out on trade rumors involving him and complaints from Miami Heat fans about his scoring
- Report: Heat began talking to Timberwolves about possible Kyle Lowry-D’Angelo Russell trade in December
- Shaquille O’Neal leaves Bam Adebayo off of his All-Star reserve ballot
- NBA executives believe the Miami Heat may not be willing to part with Caleb Martin for Cam Reddish
Former NBA players explain why they would’ve liked to play under Erik Spoelstra
- Updated: December 15, 2021
Before the 2021-22 NBA season started, The Athletic surveyed more than 100 former players on a variety of topics.
For one topic, the former players were asked which current coach they would have most liked to play for. Miami Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra got some love, as he received 8.5 percent of the votes. Only four other coaches received higher percentages.
A few of the players who went with Spoelstra explained why they picked the Heat coach.
“He holds guys accountable to a high level,” said former NBA champ Brian Scalabrine. “(There are) no free passes in Miami.”
An unnamed player from the 1990s chimed in.
“He values guys for their strengths and doesn’t get wrapped up in their weaknesses,” the player said.
Johnny Davis, another former NBA champ, also offered his take.
“Erik Spoelstra is a basketball purist who is all about the team and nothing else,” said Davis.
Spoelstra clearly is a very respected figure in the basketball world.
The 51-year-old head coach has already won multiple NBA titles with the Heat, and he’d surely love nothing more than to get another one this season.
The 2021-22 Heat are banged up at the moment, but when they’re healthy, they seem like legitimate threats to emerge from the Eastern Conference.
The squad is 16-12 so far this season. That record doesn’t really tell the whole story. The team’s potential was on full display earlier in the season, and the hope is that the Heat will get back to that level of play once some of the club’s health issues improve.
Miami’s next game will come on Wednesday against the Philadelphia 76ers on the road.
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