Erik Spoelstra Articles - Page 27

The NBA challenge system is in its inception this season, but it has more non-fans than fans. For the fans of the new system, it allows officials to take their time to get things right, and for coaches to challenge questionable calls. The argument, of course, is due to several controversial calls that made or […]

Though they’re together now, there was a time when Miami Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra shared a rivalry with Jimmy Butler and the Chicago Bulls. Spoelstra says he and Butler discuss their former rivalry from time to time, hearkening back to the 2013 Eastern Conference Semifinals. It was a time in which LeBron James was […]

Miami Heat rookie Duncan Robinson had quite a memorable evening on Wednesday, as the 6-foot-7 swingman amazingly knocked down a record nine 3-pointers en route to a 29-point performance for Miami. This astounding feat allowed Robinson to match an earlier record set by none other than seven-time NBA champion Robert Horry more than two decades […]

Goran Dragic is thriving with the Miami Heat, but doing so under a new role. The veteran point man has excelled as one of Erik Spoelstra’s first men off the bench, but the helmsman couldn’t have predicted a transition so smooth. Spoelstra first reached out to the Slovenian international after he returned from a clean-up […]

Miami Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra witnessed the “genius” of LeBron James up close during The King’s four years in South Beach, one that pivots on his ability to adapt to others’ skill sets. While James had his share of trouble adapting to Kevin Love during his second stint with the Cleveland Cavaliers, he enjoyed […]

LeBron James has teamed up with several talented superstars over the course of his career, but his latest pairing with Anthony Davis on the Los Angeles Lakers seems to be a match made in heaven. James’ former coach Miami Heat coach Erik Spoelstra certainly thinks so, as he shared his two cents on the AD-LeBron […]

Miami Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra might have hit two birds with one stone after complimenting his point guard Goran Dragic and appearing to throw some subtle shade on the disgruntled Dion Waiters. The 33-year-old Slovenian star has fully accepted a reserve role for the Heat this year, paving the way for Justice Winslow to […]

Jimmy Butler trotted out a 30-point half after mostly filling in the gaps during his first four games with the team after the birth of his daughter. That barrage of buckets helped the Miami Heat trot out a 124-108 effort to light out the Phoenix Suns. Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra was glad to finally […]

Jimmy Butler is all set to finally make his debut for the Miami Heat on Tuesday against the Atlanta Hawks. Butler has missed Miami’s first three games of the new season due to the birth of his daughter, and the Heat have confirmed that he’s expected to take the floor on Tuesday. Heat head coach […]

The Miami Heat were involved in a pretty thrilling contest on Saturday, as they secured a tightl -contested overtime victory against the Milwaukee Bucks, 131-126. There was no shortage of tense moments throughout the contest, and for his part, Miami head coach Erik Spoelstra was so caught up in the moment at one crucial juncture […]

Miami Heat guard Dion Waiters hasn’t been happy with his role in preseason, and he was just suspended one game for conduct detrimental to the team. Instead of just accepting the suspension quietly, Waiters is only pouring more gasoline on the fire with his posts on social media. There’s a lot going on here, including […]

The Miami Heat made a bold move in the offseason, pushing a sign-and-trade deal for four-time All-Star swingman Jimmy Butler from the Philadelphia 76ers. Erik Spoeltra, however, liked the move and has taken note of the 30-year-old’s desire to win, comparing Butler to Hall of Fame center and Heat legend Alonzo Mourning. Per SiriusXM NBA […]

Erik Spoelstra has long been an admirer of Doc Rivers’ systems, even back to his starting days as coach of the Miami Heat, where he was intimidated by the Boston Celtics and their Big Three. Now many years later into the job, Spoelstra sees the same scary potential with the coalition of Kawhi Leonard and […]

While speaking to local reporters on Wednesday, Miami Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra talked about how Jimmy Butler reminds him of LeBron James. James played for Spoelstra and the Heat for four seasons. Miami went to the Finals in all four years, winning two titles. Spoelstra says like LeBron, Butler only cares about one thing […]

Dion Waiters has started out the preseason coming off the bench in both games, but the Miami Heat shooting guard does not intend to be there for the entirety of the upcoming 2019-20 season. The athletic slasher put up a game-best 19 points in 16 minutes on Wednesday against the Charlotte Hornets, making it clear […]

Miami Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra recently went on the record to give us his thoughts on the league’s new coach’s challenge rule. According to the two-time NBA champion coach, he himself has yet to figure out how to best utilize this latest addition to the league’s ever expanding rule book. “To be perfectly frank,” […]

Jimmy Butler has had a long-standing love affair with the Miami Heat. Butler has long been enamored with the atmosphere that the franchise provides and has been vocal about his admiration for Pat Riley. Naturally, Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra believes that Butler was destined to play in South Beach. Erik Spoelstra on Jimmy Butler, […]

Miami Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra says he “enjoyed” working with center Hassan Whiteside despite there being rumored tension between the two. The Heat traded Whiteside to the Portland Trail Blazers this summer, ending Whiteside’s five-year run in South Beach. “I enjoyed working with Hassan,” Spoelstra said, via Ira Winderman of the Sun-Sentinel. “And I […]

Miami Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra spoke to reporters on Saturday about shooting guard Dion Waiters and what he’ll bring to the team this season. With the help of David Alexander, who has trained LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Paul in the past, Waiters lost 20 pounds this offseason and is in the best shape […]

With the Miami Heat entering the new campaign with a revamped lineup, head coach Erik Spoelstra has recently singled out big man Bam Adebayo as one of the players he expects to play a huge role for the team this coming season. According to coach Spo, he believes that Adebayo has had a tremendous impact […]

After moving on from his time with the Miami Heat this summer, 7-foot big man Hassan Whiteside now looks to turn a page in his career. The 30-year-old does not exactly leave the Heat with legendary status, following a highly-publicized falling out with the squad. Nonetheless, for Miami head coach Erik Spoelstra, he has nothing […]

There’s a reason players love playing for Miami Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra, and Jimmy Butler is quickly finding out why. Butler, the Heat’s blockbuster acquisition this summer, says Spoelstra’s “sweating” and “yelling” makes it easier for Miami to compete at a high-level in practices — which he thinks will lead to better results when […]

Miami Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra is aware that his relationship with small forward Jimmy Butler “is the most important one in this building.” Butler is the highest-paid and best player on the Heat. For Miami to get back to the playoffs this season, Butler and Spoelstra have to be on the same page. “It’s […]

Erik Spoelstra believes the Miami Heat and Jimmy Butler “speak the same language.” Butler is one of the fiercest competitors in the game, something the Heat as a franchise really value. Spoelstra says he and president Pat Riley have always respected Butler from afar and are so excited to have the four-time All-Star in South […]

Miami Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra not only met with Jimmy Butler several times during the summer, but he also spoke with Dwyane Wade to get a better feel for the four-time All-Star. Wade and Butler are very close friends off the court. They played one season together on the Chicago Bulls and talk all […]

Miami Heat point guard Goran Dragic and head coach Erik Spoelstra really like what they are seeing from guard Dion Waiters in training camp. With the help of David Alexander — who has trained LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Paul — Waiters lost 20 pounds this offseason and is in the best shape of his life. […]

James Johnson is set to miss the start of training camp after failing to meet the Miami Heat’s strict conditioning requirements the franchise demands of its players. The team said as much on a release on Tuesday, with newly extended head coach Erik Spoelstra adding very little to the specifics: The Miami Heat announced today […]

The 2019-20 season will be the first year of Erik Spoelstra and Jimmy Butler as a coach-player tandem. And right from the get-go, the Miami Heat head coach noticed and praised Butler’s ‘Hall of Fame work ethic.’ Much has been said about Butler’s insane work ethic. It’s the stuff of legend yet Spoelstra claimed that […]

Dwyane Wade recently received an amusing text message from his former head coach, Erik Spoelstra. It was a picture of Heat players participating in conditioning day. As a bit of a joke, Spoelstra asked Wade if he is going to miss these sort of activities now that he’s retired from the NBA. Wade’s response was […]

There appears to be some interesting dynamics between Miami Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra and new team superstar Jimmy Butler at this point in the offseason. There is not love lost between these two, and apparently, they kicked off their newly-formed relationship by being brutally honest with each other. According to NBA insider Tim Reynolds, […]

Miami Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra is already piling the pressure on his new superstar recruit, Jimmy Butler. The two-time NBA champion coach did not beat around the bush when talking about what he expects from Butler in terms of stepping up as the team’s leader: On whether Jimmy Butler can be a leader, Erik […]

Erik Spoelstra’s contract extension with the Miami Heat is for four years, according to Ira Winderman of the Sun Sentinel. Spoelstra, who would have been entering the final season of his deal with the Heat, quietly negotiated a new contract with Miami president Pat Riley and owner Micky Arison. Erik Spoelstra's contract extension is for […]

Erik Spoelstra has agreed to a long-term extension with the Miami Heat, according to Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN. Story filed: Miami Heat coach Erik Spoelstra has agreed to a long-term contract extension, league sources tell ESPN. Spoelstra, who had one year left on deal, quietly negotiated extension that's been finalized on the eve of his […]

The Miami Heat are coming off of a 2018-19 NBA campaign in which they won 39 games, and outside of Dwyane Wade’s retirement tour, there was genuinely nothing exciting about the team. But during the offseason, the Heat made a couple of significant moves, swinging a sign-and-trade for Jimmy Butler and then trading Hassan Whiteside […]

Besides acquiring four-time NBA All-Star Jimmy Butler, the Miami Heat’s other major offseason acquisition came in the form of Tyler Herro, their 2019 draft selection. Herro was taken by the Heat with the 13th overall pick after a single season under Coach John Calipari and the Kentucky Wildcats. The 6-foot-5 shooting guard has been lauded […]

Miami Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra says rookie Tyler Herro will have to “earn everything” in Miami. The Heat have one of the best cultures in the NBA. Spoelstra believes as long as Herro commits to getting better every day, he will flourish with the Heat. “Every team is different, like every young player is […]

After turning heads left and right during Summer League, Miami Heat rookie Tyler Herro is drawing high praise from head coach Erik Spoelstra. Spoelstra says his biggest takeaway after watching Herro in Summer League is the Heat youngster loves competition and is always looking for ways to improve his game. “Tyler embraced the new challenge […]

Josh Richardson met with Miami Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra after he was traded to the Philadelphia 76ers and Spoelstra expressed appreciation for what Richardson did in Miami, according to Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald. The Heat traded Richardson to the Sixers in the Jimmy Butler sign-and-trade deal this summer. Josh Richardson met with […]

Much has been said about the death of the mid-range shot, especially with the increasing emphasis on 3-pointers and high-percentage shots like the layup or dunk. However, Miami Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra believes playing and scoring from the mid-range game is still important in the league. Speaking during the 10th anniversary of Coaching U, […]