Miami Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra is among the longest-tenured coaches in the NBA and has learned much about the profession over the nearly 15 years he has been the Heat’s head honcho on the court.
Speaking with the Celtics Wire ahead of the 2022 NBA Mexico City game, Spoelstra shared his thoughts on two of the youngest head coaches in the league, Utah Jazz head coach (and former Boston Celtics assistant) Will Hardy and Boston interim head coach Joe Mazzulla.
“I think they are tremendous,” related the Miami head coach. “The coaching professionalism is in a great place in terms of innovation, creativity, coaching staffs that are willing to buck the trends and try different things.”
“I think that’s making all of us better,” Spoelstra added. “I’ve known Will for a while, but I really got to know him through USA Basketball. I was so impressed with him, and the way he could command the room. He has great emotional intelligence.
Speaking at the 2022 NBA Mexico City Game, the commissioner opened up about how the league is responding to misconduct moving forward. https://t.co/75VqlimPjE
— The Celtics Wire (@TheCelticsWire) December 20, 2022
“The same thing with Joe,” he continued. “Joe is young, but he has an older spirit, and the way he views coaching and leadership, all of those things are impressive for somebody at that age.
“I know I certainly wasn’t ready for all of that when I was 33,” Spoelstra concluded. Given that at that age, the Miami coach was still a Heat assistant with nearly a half-decade ahead of him before he’d take of the reins as head coach, that’s high praise indeed.
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