Erik Spoelstra Articles - Page 29

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, […]

Dion Waiters’ position with the Miami Heat could largely hinge on his playing shape as he approaches training camp, according to head coach Erik Spoelstra. Waiters has struggled with his playing weight after coming back from a lingering ankle injury, but after finishing the season in a healthy note, he is now in a position […]

Former Miami Heat player Malik Allen is expected to join Erik Spoelstra’s coaching staff. The Associated Press basketball writer Tim Reynolds reported on the development on June 4. Barring some late issue, word here at the NBA Finals today was that Malik Allen is expected to be hired by the Miami Heat to join Erik […]

Juwan Howard once starred as a player for the Michigan Wolverines, and now, he will be coaching them after his stint as assistant with the Miami Heat. The former Fab Five member has accepted a job to become the Wolverines’ head coach, replacing long-time coach John Beilein who accepted the vacant HC post with the […]

Yesterday was the end of an era at American Airlines Arena in Miami, as Dwyane Wade played in his final home game in front of the Heat fans. To the delight of the crowd–and indeed to the rest of the NBA world–Wade poured in 30 points in a blowout win over the Philadelphia 76ers, proving […]

On Sunday, the struggling Miami Heat made the tough decision of waiving guard Rodney McGruder. The 27-year-old wasn’t producing as hoped in his third NBA season, all with the Heat. He was claimed by the Los Angeles Clippers earlier Tuesday, which put the Heat beneath the luxury tax threshold. While this might have been the […]

Udonis Haslem has been in South Beach for his entire career. As it appears, it never wants to see him go. Spoiler: The feeling is mutual. Miami Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra told Ira Winderman of the South Florida Sun Sentinel that having the 38-year-old power forward return for another season is one of the […]

The Miami Heat are currently embroiled in a tight battle for one of the final playoff spots in the Eastern Conference, but they have not been doing themselves any favors down the stretch, as they have lost three of their last five games to fall to 38-40. The Heat have four games remaining, starting with […]

There are few in the NBA who can claim to have been a firsthand witness to virtually the entire NBA career of Miami Heat legend Dwyane Wade. One such man who has had the honor is no other than Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra. The 48-year-old coach recently spoke with Rohan Nadkarni of Sports Illustrated and […]

The injury bug picked a bad time to bite Josh Richardson. As the Miami Heat fight tooth and nail with four other teams for three spots at the bottom of the Eastern Conference playoff standings, Richardson is in a walking boot, with no timetable for his return to the floor from a bruised left heel. […]

On Tuesday night, the Orlando Magic are in Miami to take on the Heat. The two teams are locked an intense battle for the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference, making this a pivotal match-up. The Heat have been in this spot before. They have made the playoffs in eight of the last ten […]

Chris Bosh says Miami Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra is his favorite coach ever. Spoelstra coached Bosh for six seasons in Miami before blood clots forced the All-Star power forward to retire from the NBA. The Heat went to four-straight NBA Finals during The Big Three era with LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh, winning […]