Miami Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra speaks to reporters during media day at Kaseya Center on October 2, 2023 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Sam Navarro/Getty Images)
Erik Spoelstra is one of the best coaches the NBA has ever seen. He literally worked his way up from the film room as a low level assistant to a two-time NBA champion coach. He is also a rock of stability. In the sports world coaches are hired and fired all the time. Most coaches who have been in the league a long time will have numerous teams listed on their resume. Not coach "Spo." He has spent his entire NBA coaching career with the Miami heat. He is an incredible story.
This week, the Heat took care of their guy. Spoelstra and the Heat just agreed to a whopping 8 year extension worth $120 million dollars. The Spurs Gregg Popovich still garners a higher annual salary but the length of this deal is unheard of in all sports for coaches.
ERIK SPOELSTRA ONE OF THE GREATS
My favorite coach Spo story comes from the early days when Lebron James had just taken his talents to South Beach. Word is, after a slow start to the regular season, Bron and his guys marched up into the front office to Pat Riley and suggested Spo didn't have the chops to be head coach. Riley reportedly said Spo was his coach and then told them to get the BLEEP out of his office!
Coach Spo is one of 14 NBA coaches with multiple championships and we will focus on those coaches with Trivia today on Craig Shemon and Company on ESPN Southwest Florida. Good Luck!
CHAMPIONSHIP TRIVIA
- Three NBA coaches have won exactly 5 NBA titles. Can you name 2? Pat Riley, Gregg Popovich, John Kundla
- How many titles has Steve Kerr won as a coach? 4
- How many titles does Phil Jackson have as a coach? 11 (6 Bulls and 5 Lakers)
- How many finals has Erik Spoelstra coached in? 6
- Who were the two teams Spoelstra and the Heat beat in the Finals? 2012 Thunder in 5, 2013 Spurs in 7
- Who coached the Bad Boys Pistons to back to back titles? Chuck Daly
- Where did Erik Spoelstra go to college? Portland
- Erik Spoelstra also won a title as an assistant under who? Pat Riley
- Where did Gregg Popovich go to college? Air Force
- What two NBA coaches have won multiple titles and three Coach of the Year Awards? Gregg Popovich and Pat Riley
