Erik Spoelstra expressed immense gratitude after achieving his 800th NBA victory as the Miami Heat narrowly defeated the Milwaukee Bucks 106-103. Tyler Herro was instrumental for Miami, scoring 29 points,
along with seven assists and five rebounds. Bam Adebayo also made a significant impact with 17 points and 11 rebounds. This victory marked Miami's sixth consecutive win, maintaining their position as the third seed in the Eastern Conference with a 13-6 record.
Spoelstra became the 17th coach in NBA history to reach 800 wins. He joins Gregg Popovich of the San Antonio Spurs and Jerry Sloan of the Utah Jazz as one of only three coaches to achieve this milestone with a single team. Spoelstra was unaware of his achievement until his players celebrated by dousing him with water in the dressing room after their NBA Cup win.
"I was very confused," Spoelstra admitted after the game. "I thought maybe we qualified for the Cup. Then I noticed no one else was getting water dumped on them, and I wondered what was happening. "
He really had no idea why congrats, Spo! Unlocked // @RobinhoodApp pic.twitter.com/HeaeVeAroi
- Miami HEAT (@MiamiHEAT) November 27, 2025
Reflecting on his career, Spoelstra shared that he hadn't fully processed the milestone yet because he wasn't aware of it initially. "It's fitting that it comes on the eve of Thanksgiving," he said. "I just feel incredible gratitude for this organisation and all these years. " He expressed his love for coaching and working with talented players and staff over time.
Tyler Herro, drafted by the Heat in 2019 as the 13th pick, commented on Spoelstra's achievement: "It's huge. I'm trying to think of how old I was when Spo probably got his first one and then to be where he is now - he's got 800 of them - is insane. " Herro highlighted being part of a historically top organisation as a great experience.
Spoelstra's journey with Miami has been marked by dedication and success, contributing significantly to their reputation in the league. His commitment to coaching and passion for basketball continue to inspire both players and fans alike.
