From there, Spoelstra went in a highly atypical direction, having rarely criticized his players publicly during his 18-season tenure as Heat coach.
“I get it with some young players,” Spoelstra said. “You sometimes subconsciously play poorly to say, ‘Hey, I’ll play poorly until you play me the minutes I think I deserve. Then I’ll play well.’ That’s not how it works.”
That last comment drew rebukes from no less than former Heat players Dwyane Wade and Udonis Haslem during their work on Prime’s NBA studio coverage.
“Honestly, I ain’t gonna lie, I think it’s crazy,” Ware said of Spoelstra’s Thursday comment. “But, I mean, it’s his comments.
“I’ve kind of learned to control what you can control. It is what it is. If I didn’t play in the second half, that was his decision that he felt like he needed to make.”
Of potentially being in such a situation again, Ware said he will handle it professionally, amid expectations of returning to previous productivity.
“Just going out there and play, basically,” he said. “In order to produce, I guess, like he said eight weeks ago, I would say I had more minutes eight weeks ago. But I guess to try to bring that same productivity to the minutes that I’m getting now.”
Ware said his view is he is maximizing his effort in the opportunities presented. As for Spoelstra potentially wanting more, Ware said, “That’s a question you’ve got to ask him. Like I said, it is what it is, control the controllable.”
42 comments
This should go over well 😂
Honestly I’m not sure I’ve heard Spo call out a player like he has with Ware. Maybe that’s because he sees the most potential in Ware. But it does make you wonder what is going on inside that locker room.
Ngl, this is getting rough. Clearly a rift between the two that I hope can be solved because this isn’t worth alienating one of our most naturally talented players
I’m not gonna lie y’all, this is looking more and more like a Kerr/Kuminga situation every single day.
Spo is a fucking idiot seriously. Anyone that thinks this is the same super coach spo is off their heads
I think most people here will get what Ware is saying but at the same time this is the second season straight that Spo has been critical of a players effort, I hope that this situation dies down and everyone ends up doing good again and not like a certain someone last year….
It isn’t about production tho pelle be putting up donuts and never holding the rock other then to swing it or catch and shoot lol idk who he thinks he fooling it’s more then obvious when a player is giving effort or not and im sure it’s more then obvious as a coach if a player is listening to the coaching that you give them
I’m with Ware lowkey. Young players need opportunities to get better. Dude isn’t a 10 year all star vet. Spo seems like he prefers playing with 2nd round talent
I’m with Ware here. Being accused of sabotaging your own team to get more minutes is a crazy accusation lol
This isn’t good
Hope Spo didn’t kill Ware’s confidence permanently.
This is getting a little awkward/toxic now
Pretty classy from Ware all things considered
I trust Spo. I’ve seen Ware do good in games and also earn that label of being un motivated. Makes me wonder what we don’t see in practice.
Idk what’s going on behind the scenes but SPO shouldn’t publicly call out players and say they’re subconsciously playing like shit to rebel against him. It’s weak and he’s not taking accountability for his lineups.
Loser response man
Spo ego
Please don’t make this drama. It’s done. Coach makes the call player stfu and listen and trust you’re being coached by the best of the best.
Great. All we needed was a schism between our most talented young player and the best thing this doomed franchise has, the best coach in the league.
I’m not saying I agree with Spo’s decision and comments here, but I don’t think talking back to the media is going to work for Ware. Spo won a standoff LeBron James as a 3rd year head coach.
whiteside 2
Spo’s comments are a window into a very bad relationship. You don’t start coming up with theories like that, and you don’t air them out, unless you really have a low opinion of the other person.
I gotta believe Ware knows this instinctively at this point.
Ware for Kuminga and Moody is going to hit like a pallet of bricks
Yeah it’s starting to feel like the worst-case situation now. You can’t haphazardly throw comments like that around and then try to clean it up to the press the next day. Trying to ‘fix’ it by explaining yourself to the press instead of just telling people that ‘we spoke and we’re clear with each other’ is honestly such a bad look as well.
Don’t know if it’s quite at the stage of burnt bridges but it feels real close to it. Couldn’t blame Ware & his agent if they start wanting to be elsewhere.
Ware is literally so good, and young, and full of potential… what is Spos deal?
Ayyy this is looking bad
You tell him Ware. Stand your ground.
Exactly. The stuff Sponhas been doing in the media with Kelel is not cool and unfair. Unfortunately it started something bigger now. You keep picking on someone and they eventually have to defend themselves. I been saying it’s stupid since day one and y’all keep saying “hE’s cOaChInG hIm hArD” … Yeah ok…
Heat are in danger of punting a second consecutive season because the front office mismanaged another player dispute. Wild.
Spo has lost his touch.
This is now solely on him. He had achieved more with less talented rosters.
It’s getting hot in here.
Yep this relationship has been permanently damaged you don’t walk back from comments like that that spo just said. He lost kelels trust permanently it’s only a matter of time till he gets traded
I don’t understand this, I’m a guy from Istanbul, and I watch heat basketball, Kel el is a monster and an automatic rebound every possession, can finish strong, protect the rim, has a 3pt shot. I really don’t get it.
All of y’all on Ware’s side need to just look back at all his scouting reports. This isn’t a spo thing. Here’s one: “Ultimately, his career trajectory may depend greatly on who drafts him and how much effort the team picks him up puts into his development. If he has a coaching staff who cares about bringing the best out of him, he could shine, but if he is treated with little attention, it will be hard to bring the love of the game out of him.”
What is Spo’s issue with this kid
Thing is Spo iced him when he was on fire and after that killed all of Wares motivation
Iam pro player but i have to be Honest
Spo called him out because he acts like spoiled bratt by giving less effort when he plays less minutes.
That’s ass backwards thats not how sports work.
When a coach gives you less minutes you work harder to prove him wrong and yourself correct.
A coach job is to hold you accountable and call you out if you acting like a Child. Giving less effort over getting less minutes is childish behavior and unacceptable.
This is a NBA league is a Job that pays you to perform.
The Best Revenge is Success
Damn this just sounds bad overall.
I see where Ware is coming from, he got called out and responded by dropping 15/14 for a 9 game stretch while starting and the last 3 of those 9 games he was averaging 20/16 then he got benched…..
But also see where Spo is coming from, Ware shouldn’t have to be told he needs to play with more effort and be ready to play whatever minutes he gets, he’s getting paid millions of dollars to play, the coach shouldn’t have to babysit him. Ware doesn’t do himself any favors by moping around and looking disengaged at times.
Spo was tripping with those comments about Ware. I know on this sub a lot of people think the FO and Spo can do no wrong at all but Spo was in the wrong then, which he’s since admitted and apologized. Spo is gone to look in tbe mirror and figure out this small ball/Ware stuff
Careful young buck
I’m curious, just wanna see something.
How many of you now are willing to leave the Heat and follow Kel’el where he goes?
Gianiss trade needs to come quick before the trade value goes down.