Miami Heat star Jimmy Butler is known for his propensity to display different forms of tough love, and it looks like that’s something he has in common with Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra.
On Thursday, Butler spoke with members of the media and touched briefly on Spoelstra’s coaching style.
“We talk about a guy that looks really, really calm, but will cuss you out in a heartbeat,” Butler said. “I think that’s a huge difference. [Tom Thibodeau] looked like he’ll cuss you out in a heartbeat. Brett Brown didn’t look like, he looks like a really nice guy. Spo looks like a really nice guy, right? Will cuss your a– out so quick.”
So far, Spoelstra’s coaching style seems to be working very well with Butler and the rest of his Heat teammates this season.
Butler is averaging 20.6 points, 7.0 assists and 6.9 rebounds per game this season, all better than his career averages.
The Heat as a whole currently sit at the No. 2 seed in the Eastern Conference with an impressive record of 18-6.
Up next, they’ll take on the 22-3 Los Angeles Lakers.
With former Heat star LeBron James coming to town, and the Heat having a lot to prove against one of the NBA’s best teams, Spoelstra’s coaching ability will certainly be put to the test.