Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James won two championships on the Miami Heat with Erik Spoelstra as the head coach, so he knows firsthand how excellent of a coach Spo is.

During his media session with reporters on Tuesday, James called out the media for not giving Spoelstra the credit he deserved during the Heat's Big Three era of James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh from 2010 to 2014:

After leading the Heat to the Finals this season when not many pundits thought the team would make it this far, Erik Spoelstra is now being called the best head coach in the NBA, or at the very least he's one of the best. It's hard to argue with that notion considering the Heat have been silencing naysayers left and right all season.

Article Continues Below
More Miami Heat News
image thumbnail
3 early Chicago Bulls trade targets in 2025 NBA offseasonJedd Pagaduan ·
DeMar DeRozan photoshopped in Heat jersey.
Heat trade proposal for DeMar DeRozan in offseason amid Kings trade rumorsBailey Bassett ·
Sacramento Kings forward DeMar DeRozan (10) dribbles against the Phoenix Suns during the first quarter at Golden 1 Center.
Heat rumors: Kings’ DeMar DeRozan still viewed as Miami offseason trade targetJake Faigus ·
Steve Kerr, Erik Spoelstra, Jimmy Butler, Miami Heat, Golden State Warriors
Steve Kerr reveals what Erik Spoelstra told him about Jimmy ButlerTomer Azarly ·
Miami Heat center Bam Adebayo (13) looks to shoot in the first quarter against the Cleveland Cavaliers at Rocket Arena.
Bam Adebayo’s All-Defensive snub snaps 5-year Heat streakZachary Weinberger ·
Miami Heat center Bam Adebayo (13) dribbles the basketball against the Cleveland Cavaliers in the third quarter during game three for the first round of the 2025 NBA Playoffs at Kaseya Center.
Could Bam Adebayo, Andrew Wiggins be Lakers trade targets?Zachary Weinberger ·

Since LeBron James has the utmost respect for Spo and the Heat organization, don't expect the Lakers to take Miami lightly in the Finals. Both the Lakers and Heat only lost three games in their respective conference playoffs to get to the Finals, so the championship series should be extremely competitive from start to finish.

James, who is looking to win his fourth title and fourth Finals MVP, is averaging 26.7 points, 10.3 rebounds and 8.9 assists per game for the Lakers thus far in the playoffs. The King is also shooting 54.7 percent from the field, 34.9 percent from beyond the arc and 74.1 percent from the free-throw line.

The Heat will likely put Jimmy Butler on LeBron, although Miami can also throw Andre Iguodala, Bam Adebayo and Jae Crowder on the Lakers superstar.