The 2022-23 Miami Heat didn’t look like a title contender. Coming in, they only had two All-Stars surrounded by an older and flawed supporting cast. Yet, somehow, the Heat were able to blast through all expectations to make a trip to the NBA Finals.
A lot of factors were at play in Miami’s Finals run, but perhaps none were greater than Erik Spoelstra, who is quickly gaining a reputation as one of the best in the business. According to NBA legend and Clippers executive Jerry West, Heat coach Erik Spoelstra is actually the best coach he’s ever seen.
“Erik Spoelstra, I’ve never seen a better coach than him, I have not. He’s just an unbelievable coach. He and Pat, I think they have a good working relationship there. And he can take players that are pretty good and make them better. They have a system there and they believe in it. And watching him coach games, he lets things roll off his shoulder.”
"I've never seen a better coach than [Erik Spoelstra]"
Jerry West praised the Heat head coach at NBA Summer League with @TermineRadio & @TheJaxShow. pic.twitter.com/EoEjlcZxf8
— SiriusXM NBA Radio (@SiriusXMNBA) July 8, 2023
For the Heat, it wasn’t just the play of Bam and Jimmy that got them so far. Guys like Gabe Vincent, Max Strus, and even Caleb Martin were empowered to play their game and they showed up when the team needed them most.
In truth, Spoelstra is good at getting the most out of his guys, and it’s just one of many reasons why Damian Lillard has his eyes set on landing there.
Coach Spo Nearly Lost His Job In LeBron James Era
As one of the league’s longest-tenured coaches, Spoelstra holds a lot of power within the organization and it seems he has been given full control to coach how he sees fit.
Interestingly enough, LeBron tried to get the guy fired back in the early 2010s, but not even he could convince Pat Riley to hire a replacement.
“This is a story that players went in to complain about Spoelstra. And he went downstairs and told everybody downstairs, ‘I’ll be in there in 15 minutes.’ He made them all line up against the wall,” recalled Michael Lombardi. “And basically, all the mega-superstars that were there, he told every one of them, ‘You don’t ever come in my office and tell me to fire a coach. Your job is to play basketball.’ That’s culture!”
What Spo has been able to do with the Heat has been nothing short of incredible, but they have yet to reach a breakthrough since the departure of LeBron James. Obviously, they are hoping to change that soon with the acquisition of Lillard, but it remains to be seen if the Heat can finally bring home another title.
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