News
LeBron: "There's Going to Be Times When Spo Don't Like Me"
LeBron and Coach Spoelstra Talk About Their Relationship
Miami Heat star LeBron James and coach Erik Spoelstra recently talked about the nature of their relationship as player and coach.
"I think the last few weeks it's been a lot more comfortable," Spoelstra told FOX Sports reporter Bill Reiter. "We've been communicating a lot more."
After practice on Tuesday, James also shared his perspective on the relationship with Reiter.
"It's definitely a process, and I think me and Coach Spo are learning each other as we speak," said James. "It's not always going to be a bed of roses. We know that. There's going to be times when Spo don't like me and I don't like Spo. That's just how it is. But we've got to have each other's back no matter what's going on."
There has, of course, been a lot of pressure on the Miami Heat. The pressure has been not only on the Big Three to prove that they can win big but also on young coach Erik Spoelstra to prove that he can successfully coach a team with so many big names.
"I know there's a lot of pressure on all of us, including coach Spo, but at the end of the day we're all in it together," said James.
And with so much pressure, the players have to trust not only their teammates but also their coach.
"It takes a while to develop trust," said Spoelstra. "From a coaching standpoint you have to fight for players' trust every single day. Every single meeting. Whenever you talk to them -- game, pregame, shoot-around, practice. I think every coach has that same feeling."
And that trust works both ways. LeBron has proven his high basketball IQ over and over again. And Spoelstra acknowledges and respects that.
"He's a highly intelligent player," said Spoelstra. "So from a coaching standpoint you're drawn to that because he's interested in the details, he's interested in the game plan. He's interested in strategy. And once we developed a trust, I wanted to welcome his ideas as long as it's in the right context."
And that trust in James carries over even to some of the most critical game-time moments, timeouts.
"Sometimes -- a lot of times actually now -- during timeouts I start to diagram something and he says, ‘Coach, can I say something,' almost like he's a student in class,'" Spoelstra said. "And I'll say, ‘Yeah, absolutely, quickly, we got 2-1/2,' so I can assimilate it and then possibly translate it to the team.
"Sometimes we're not even finishing sentences with each other. He'll say something and I know exactly what he's talking about," continued Spoesltra. "And I'll say something and I'm halfway through my sentence and he'll finish my sentence and we go to explain to everybody else and everyone's sitting in the huddle there going, ‘What just happened there?'
"A lot of times we finish each other's thoughts in the huddle, and that only happens if a player is really dialed in to the game and the details."
So the trust and synchronicity are there. And while LeBron admits that he doesn't always agree with Spo's thinking and vice versa, they find a way to make it work.
"I have some of my own methods and Coach has some of his own and we both know the game, we both believe in some of the things that we know, but we both have to figure out a way (to do it together)," LeBron said. "Which we have."
And at the end of the day, LeBron trusts that his coach will lead the team in the right direction.
"I know coach Spo is going to put us out there and give us the best routine, give us the best challenge, and give us the best game plan to win, and I'm going to have to be that coach on the court for him as we play," said James.
(Sources: FOXSports.com)
Hollywood Collectibles offers a great selection of Miami Heat memorabilia, including LeBron James memorabilia, Dwyane Wade memorabilia, and much more. Visit Hollywood Collectibles today to own your very own authentic Heat collectibles!
More News
Serena Williams Cries After Grand Slam Comeback Victory
Released On: 6/22/2011
Views: 8320
Pat Riley: Erik Spoelstra Will Still Coach Heat
Released On: 6/22/2011
Views: 8185
Chad Pennington to Become Fox Analyst
Miami Dolphins quarterback Chad Pennington says that he will skip the 2011 NFL season so that he can recover from injuries. And since he will have no playing obligations, Pennington has signed up to serve as an analyst for Fox Sports.
Released On: 6/21/2011
Views: 7646
Rafael Nadal Wins Opening Wimbledon Match
Rafael Nadal, the defending champion of Wimbledon, won the first match of this year's Wimbledon on Monday by defeating American player Michael Russell 6-4, 6-2, 6-2.
Released On: 6/21/2011
Views: 4803
Albert Pujols Injured; Out for 4-6 Weeks
Released On: 6/21/2011
Views: 5918
Jennifer Lopez "On The Fence" About Returning to American Idol
Released On: 6/16/2011
Views: 5343
Mavericks Coach Praises Miami Heat Coach
Released On: 6/16/2011
Views: 6285
Mario Chalmers Receives Offer From Miami Heat
Released On: 6/16/2011
Views: 5762
Kim Clijsters Withdraws From Wimbledon
Released On: 6/16/2011
Views: 5584
Jimmy Connors Doubts Roddick Can Win Another Slam
Released On: 6/16/2011
Views: 5962
Baseball Team Makes Fun of LeBron James
Released On: 6/16/2011
Views: 6585
DeShawn Stevenson Arrested for Public Intoxication
Released On: 6/16/2011
Views: 6049
LeBron James: I Don't Think "I'm Superior or Better Than Anyone Else"
Released On: 6/15/2011
Views: 6649
Shaquille O'Neal in Sex Tape Scandal
Released On: 6/15/2011
Views: 6204
Map
Hollywood Collectibles
Get DirectionsHollywood Collectibles
-
1300 Stirling Road Suite 1 C&D
Dania Beach, Florida 33004
United States - (954) 986-0707
- Mon - Fri 8:30 AM - 5:30 PM ET
Sat 10:00 AM - 2:00 PM ET
