Erik Spoelstra is a legend. He’s on the short list of the greatest coaches in NBA history and is a surefire first-ballot Hall of Famer. He took over for one of the NBA’s all-time great coaches in Pat Riley
and didn’t miss a beat, taking the job at age 38.
Despite having to manage the egos and pressure that came with the dominance of the Big 3 in the early 2010s, he led them to four Finals appearances and two NBA championships. Even after LeBron left, Dwyane Wade regressed, and Chris Bosh was forced to medically retire, he kept the Heat respectable, never losing more than 45 games in a season and maximizing his personnel despite the increasing mediocrity that Riley supplied him as the team’s president. Miami made another two NBA Finals, including one as a No. 8 seed in 2023.
His teams have always been a pain to play against, especially since the end of the Big 3 Era. They’ve always prioritized physicality, defense, and making life hell for their opponents. We know that firsthand from 2022-23, as an injured, struggling Julius Randle continued his longtime playoff struggles and most of the Knicks roster was held to dreadful numbers in the 2023 Second Round series against his Heatles.
The one player he’s never been able to keep under wraps, however, is Jalen Brunson.
The Knicks’ captain had one of his best games as a Knick on Sunday, dropping 47 points (the most he’s ever scored at MSG!) and shouldering the load on an off-night for Karl-Anthony Towns to lead the Knicks to their 20th win of the season.
After the game, Spoelstra sang the praises of Brunson and the Knicks, something he’s done several times in the past:
Brunson has faced the Heat 16 times since becoming a Knick, averaging 28.8 points a night on 51/37/87 shooting splits. Only two players have averaged more against the Heat in that span, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Luka Doncic, who’ve only faced Miami eight combined times.
No matter what the circumstance, no matter who’s guarding him, Coach Spo has never had an answer for JB.
In the three meetings between the teams in March 2023, Brunson had two 25-point games, but was decently supported by Randle, Immanuel Quickley, and RJ Barrett. Come playoff time, however, all three of them put together putrid performances, and Brunson had to put on his cape.
Brunson averaged 31 points, 6.3 assists, and 5.5 rebounds on solid shooting in the six-game defeat, scoring 20 in every single game. He played all 48 minutes in a 38-point masterpiece in Game 5 and played 45 minutes in Game 6, scoring 41 of the team’s 92 points while being a plus-3 in a four-point loss. The only time he sat, the Heat went on a 10-0 run to put a stranglehold on the game in the second quarter.
After the game, Spoelstra waxed poetic about Brunson, who at that point had never been an all-star or All-NBA player. The two’s connection would grow that summer, when Spoelstra was an assistant coach for Team USA at the 2023 FIBA World Cup, in which Brunson was the starting point guard.
Brunson dropped 32 again on the Heat in January 2024 on the day Randle played his final game as a Knick due to a dislocated shoulder injury. He scored 31 in January 2025 in an overtime win. In the two meetings in which he’s played this season, he has had 37 and 47-point games. Since becoming a Knick, he’s failed to score 20 one singular time against the Heat.
While his career averages against the Heat are dragged down by his days in Dallas, Brunson’s averages against them are truly elite.
Since Erik Spoelstra took over in 2008, LeBron James’ 27.6 points per game is the most against the Heat in 38 games, followed by Kevin Durant at 27.3. Damian Lillard and Steph Curry also average over 24 points a night.
Remember, since becoming a Knick, Brunson is averaging 28.8 points a game against Spoelstra. Even including his time in Dallas, he has the fifth-highest PPG average of any player against a Spo team.
So yeah, Spo’s right to hold him in such high regard. Say, isn’t he going to coach the 2028 Summer Olympic team?
Wonder if he needs a point guard.
