Top Ad
I DIG Radio
www.idigradio.com
Listen live to the best music from around the world!
I DIG Style
www.idigstyle.com
Learn about the latest fashion styles and more...

Sources: Heat extend Spo on record $120M deal

Written by 
Published in Basketball
Tuesday, 09 January 2024 19:00

Miami Heat coach Erik Spoelstra has agreed to an eight-year contract extension worth more than $120 million, the most committed money in North American coaching history, sources told ESPN on Tuesday night.

Spoelstra, 53, has established himself as one of the most respected and successful coaches in professional sports and the new deal reflects both his and the organization's desire to keep him with the only franchise he's ever worked for in the NBA.

Spoelstra -- who has won two championships and reached the NBA Finals six times -- is the NBA's second-highest-paid coach on an annual basis, behind Gregg Popovich at $19 million per season, but the length of Spoelstra's deal separates him financially from his peers, sources said.

Miami is tied for fifth place in the Eastern Conference with a 21-15 record despite a revolving door of injuries to key players all season.

Spoelstra has been Miami's coach since 2008, when he was appointed to replace Hall of Famer Pat Riley. Since then, Spoelstra has become one of 14 coaches in NBA history to win two titles. As an eighth seed last season, the Heat made a remarkable run through the Eastern Conference playoffs to eventually lose to the Denver Nuggets in the NBA Finals.

He trails only Popovich in terms of tenure with a single franchise and is third behind Popovich and Indiana Pacers coach Rick Carlisle among active coaches in games won (704).

Those 704 victories rank Spoelstra 20th in NBA history. He's fifth all time with 109 playoff victories, trailing only Popovich among active coaches.

Spoelstra began with the Heat in 1995 as a video coordinator under Riley. Over the next 13 years, Spoelstra rose through the ranks to become Riley's assistant and then took over the team once Riley stepped down in 2008.

Two years later, LeBron James and Chris Bosh joined Dwyane Wade in Miami, ushering in a run of four consecutive Finals appearances -- including back-to-back championships in 2012 and '13.

After James left in 2014, Spoelstra and the Heat returned to the late stages of the playoffs with Jimmy Butler in the NBA's Orlando, Florida, bubble in 2020, beating the Milwaukee Bucks and Boston Celtics on the way to losing in six games in the NBA Finals to James and the Los Angeles Lakers.

The Heat then lost in seven games in the Eastern Conference finals to the Celtics in 2022, before reaching the NBA Finals last season after beating the Bucks, New York Knicks and Celtics.

ESPN's Tim Bontemps contributed to this report.

Read 106 times

Soccer

Atléti mark Simeone's 700th game with late win

Atléti mark Simeone's 700th game with late win

Diego Simeone's 700th game in charge of Atlético Madrid ended in a late 2-1 win over Deportivo Alave...

Sources: Olof Mellberg to become St.Louis boss

Sources: Olof Mellberg to become St.Louis boss

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsFormer Aston Villa and Sweden defender Olof Mellberg has signed a m...

Arteta backs Saka amid Kane drop-outs comment

Arteta backs Saka amid Kane drop-outs comment

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsMikel Arteta has hit back at anyone questioning Bukayo Saka's commi...

2026 FIFA


2028 LOS ANGELES OLYMPIC

UEFA

2024 PARIS OLYMPIC


Basketball

NBA follows NFL in warning players on burglaries

NBA follows NFL in warning players on burglaries

EmailPrintThe NBA is urging its players to take additional precautions to secure their homes followi...

Sources: Zion (hamstring) not close to returning

Sources: Zion (hamstring) not close to returning

EmailPrintNew Orleans Pelicans star Zion Williamson has undergone multiple treatments on his left ha...

Baseball

Hays, Finnegan, Rodgers among new free agents

Hays, Finnegan, Rodgers among new free agents

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsNEW YORK -- Outfielder Austin Hays and right-hander Kyle Finnegan -...

Judge giving Soto space amid free agency frenzy

Judge giving Soto space amid free agency frenzy

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsNEW YORK -- Aaron Judge is one of the few people on Earth who can r...

Sports Leagues

  • FIFA

    Fédération Internationale de Football Association
  • NBA

    National Basketball Association
  • ATP

    Association of Tennis Professionals
  • MLB

    Major League Baseball
  • ITTF

    International Table Tennis Federation
  • NFL

    Nactional Football Leagues
  • FISB

    Federation Internationale de Speedball

About Us

I Dig® is a leading global brand that makes it more enjoyable to surf the internet, conduct transactions and access, share, and create information.  Today I Dig® attracts millions of users every month.r

 

Phone: (800) 737. 6040
Fax: (800) 825 5558
Website: www.idig.com
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Affiliated