“They Working Like Slaves”: Ex-Heat Star Reveals What Separates $120 Million Erik Spoelstra From Other NBA Coaches

Coaching in the NBA is a wholly unique challenge. For every great coach, there are dozens of misfires. However, rarely do we get coaches who are unanimously loved and praised. The Miami Heat organization, though, found one of those rare gems. A franchise synonymous with finding diamonds in the rough learned the model from their head coach. While he has earned the respect of players and the league as a whole, his paycheck now represents that same level of respect. During an appearance on Gilbert Arenas’ podcast, former Heat veteran Norris Cole explained the unique talent that Coach Erik Spoelstra possesses.

“Spo is not one of those coaches that’s stuck in his ways. He adjusts with the time, and he holds himself accountable…Spo look at himself like, ‘I messed that up…I’m gonna adjust,'” explained Norris Cole.

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Further, it’s his experience that truly separates him from the rest. Not just in terms of tenure, but variety as well. “He learned how to coach with talent, which is not easy. Most people think having a bunch of talented dudes is easy. It ain’t cuz those egos is crazy. It’s hard to tell a dude that got more money than you, ‘We ain’t doing that.'” 

During his time with the Heatles, Cole was a teammate to multiple such players on the team already. Whether it was all-timers like LeBron James and Dwyane Wade, or veterans like Ray Allen and Rashard Lewis, the team was full of big-time names. But, it was Coach Spo that had to manage all of them. “Spo had to keep all of that in one bag. So, he learned that, and then when they all left, he learned how to coach with less talent. So, he knows all the teams. If I got a supremely talented team, I know how to bounce the egos. A team that’s not that talented, I know what I gotta do. The teams that ain’t that talented, they in there working like slaves.”

But, it is Spoelstra who can bring that out of his boys. We’ve seen what a Spo-led Heat team can do in the playoffs since the turn of the decade. So then, his record extension to stay with the team doesn’t come as much of a surprise.

Erik Spoelstra makes history

In a season that has come to be defined by remarkable extensions and contracts for coaches, Erik Spoelstra signed the largest one yet. An 8-year deal worth $120 million, drawing massive cheers from Dwyane Wade, which puts him behind just Gregg Popovich of the San Antonio Spurs in annual earnings.

But, looking at his history, the number isn’t surprising in the least. While some were quick to attribute the 4-straight Finals appearances with the Big 3 to the players, Erik has found a remarkable amount of success without them as well.

Since the Jimmy Butler acquisition, Miami has gone to 2 more Finals, with 4 Conference Finals appearances to their name as well. This season, too, the Heat are right in the thick of things, despite missing out on any major free-agent acquisitions.

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And it is all, because of Pat Riley and his diamond in the rough, Erik Spoelstra.