Miami Heat coach Erik Spoelstra, left, and Phoenix Suns coach Mike Budenholzer met each other for the 53rd time Wednesday night and have known each other since both worked as video coordinators. (Photos by Michael Reaves, left, and Chris Coduto/Getty Images)
PHOENIX – Longevity is never a given in any industry. Coaching jobs in the NBA are no exception.
The only current coaches to stay with a team for at least 10 seasons are Michael Malone (Denver Nuggets), Steve Kerr (Golden State Warriors), Erik Spoelstra (Miami Heat) and Gregg Popovich (San Antonio Spurs).
“It’s a sobering reality of our profession,” Spolestra said Wednesday before the Heat faced the Suns at Footprint Center. “I’m forever grateful to the leadership of Pat Riley and the Arison family. They believe in a culture that has stability, structure and a family atmosphere. And there is business to be done. Sometimes there’s tough decisions to be made.
“We’ve been able to bounce back quicker because of that continuity and have had some of our greatest lessons. I’ve had some of my best, most impactful coaching lessons from really tough losses that end your season and seasons that didn’t go the way you wanted.”
Heading into the 2024 season, eight teams changed coaches. Before this, the most coaching positions that had been made available in an offseason was six in 2023.
“I probably would have been fired at least four or five times if I was in any other organization,” said Spoelstra, who is in his 17th season with the Heat. “With continuity you really end up trusting the people that you’re with and you want to do anything for those people when you go through tough times.
“That’s the only time you truly know somebody is when you go through tough times and a little bit of pressure, a little bit of adversity. Then you get to know the real you.”
However, a handful of veteran coaches exist who have been pillars of success with multiple organizations, such as Suns coach Mike Budenholzer, who previously served as a coach for the Atlanta Hawks (five years) and the Milwaukee Bucks (five years).
That’s why Wednesday night’s matchup between the Suns and Heat held an underlying level of significance: the 53rd matchup between Spoelstra and Budenhozler, which includes postseason games.
“I feel like it’s 1,053 times,” Budenholzer said. “I know everybody knows Spo is one of the best, if not the best coaches in our league. It’s a challenge going against him every night. There’s the ultimate respect for Spo, his players, and the whole program.
“What he’s done to be in one place, to start his career and work his way up to be the head coach now for however many years, I give him a ton of credit and respect. We like competition and I know he loves it.”
Before the game, they were tied in wins at 26, but Budenholzer took the lead with the Suns’ 115-112 victory.
The history between the two coaches dates farther back than their tenures as coaches. Budenzoler entered the league in 1994 as a video coordinator for the Spurs. A year later, Spoelstra was hired by the Heat for the same position.
Spoelstra didn’t have experience at the position and would often consult Budenholzer, which ultimately created a strong camaraderie between the two.
“I came in as a video coordinator that next year and (Budenholzer) was really helpful because I didn’t know what the heck to do in that position and we both worked for a demanding coach,” Spoelstra said. “The position was relatively new to the NBA. I was calling Bud three times a week, just to try to understand how to do the job better. We’ve been friendly ever since.”
The success that Spoelstra and Budenholzer have experienced in winning an NBA championship is something that only a select few coaches have been able to achieve with an organization. They have been instrumental in the development of impactful players over the years, such as Heat center Bam Adebayo and Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo.
Adebayo credits Spoelstra for his growth and success since entering the league in 2017. He also pointed to the accomplishments of former Miami players now on other teams like Gabe Vincent, Max Strus and Caleb Martin, who developed reputations in the playoffs.
“For me as a player, having a coach that’s worked with so many great players puts things into perspective,” Adebayo said. “If I ever have a bad game, he’s seen great players have that happen. We’ve had conversations to understand it’s a long season. And he’s one of those coaches who’s going to point to his team, he’s going to point to his players.
“That’s why when we’ve been in the playoffs and you hear guys that have never been accounted for. It’s great to have a head coach like that where he can get the best out of his players. It speaks to his way of thinking, coaching, and how we operate.”
Spoelstra and Budenholzer will face off one more time this season when the Suns head to Florida to take on the Heat Dec. 7 at the Kaysea Center.