Heat Coach Spoelstra Drives Young Players Harder Than Vets

Spoelstra says it's to develop winning habits and accountability in Miami's youth

Published on Feb. 9, 2026

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Miami Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra is taking a tougher approach with the team's younger players compared to the veterans, driving them harder to develop winning habits and accountability. Spoelstra says the experienced players get "a little bit more of a leash" but the young players need to "understand there's accountability to whether it's leading to winning or not." This is part of the Heat's culture of developing future leaders, with players like Jaime Jaquez Jr. and Pelle Larsson already taking on more vocal leadership roles.

Why it matters

The Heat's approach with their young players highlights the challenges of developing a winning culture, especially with an uneven roster of veterans and inexperienced players. Spoelstra's tough love is aimed at preparing the next generation of Heat leaders, even if it means being harder on them in the short term.

The details

Spoelstra said the double standard is "real, undeniable" as he drives the younger players harder than the veterans. He wants the young players to "understand, 'OK, this is what impacts winning. This is what doesn't impact winning, and there's going to be a consequence.'" The coach said this helps develop "winning habits and accountability" that will be crucial in the playoffs. Spoelstra pointed to recent draft picks Jaime Jaquez Jr. and Pelle Larsson already taking on more leadership roles as a result of this approach.

  • The Heat play the Utah Jazz on Monday night at Kaseya Center.
  • The Heat conclude their schedule before the All-Star break with a road game against the New Orleans Pelicans on Wednesday night.

The players

Erik Spoelstra

The head coach of the Miami Heat, who has been with the organization for over 30 years and is known for developing a winning culture.

Jaime Jaquez Jr.

A recent draft pick of the Miami Heat who has been taking on more of a leadership role within the team.

Pelle Larsson

A young player for the Miami Heat who has also gained more confidence and taken on a larger leadership role this season.

Keshad Johnson

A second-year forward for the Miami Heat who was recently sent to the G League but remains part of the team's future plans.

Kevin Love

A veteran NBA player who was recently traded from the Miami Heat to the Utah Jazz and will not be able to return to the Heat this season due to league rules.

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What they’re saying

“You better have a season of a bunch of ups and downs and adversity and times where you've had to earn minutes as young players to understand, 'OK, this is what impacts winning. This is what doesn't impact winning, and there's going to be a consequence.'”

— Erik Spoelstra, Head Coach, Miami Heat

“Obviously, it's not all apples to apples. The experienced players probably get a little bit more of a leash as they should. But as developing young players, I just think they develop faster when they understand there's accountability to whether it's leading to winning or not.”

— Erik Spoelstra, Head Coach, Miami Heat

“In developing these young players, we're also developing these guys to take on more of a leadership role. And that's Jaime, and his voice is growing. I think Pelle, for sure, as a young player, has gained more confidence from the locker room to be more of a leader.”

— Erik Spoelstra, Head Coach, Miami Heat

What’s next

The Heat will play their final game before the All-Star break on Wednesday night against the New Orleans Pelicans.

The takeaway

Spoelstra's tough approach with Miami's young players is part of the team's long-standing culture of developing winning habits and future leaders, even if it means being harder on them in the short term. This strategy is aimed at preparing the next generation of Heat players for success, rather than just catering to veteran players.