NBA: Heat’s Erik Spoelstra voted by GMs as best coach, motivator

Miami Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra has been voted by majority of NBA General Managers as the league’s current best coach and motivator in their recent annual survey.
Spoelstra, who led the Heat to the Eastern Conference crown last year, as well as pushing the eventual champions Los Angeles Lakers to 6 games, was picked by 46% of GMs as “the best head coach” in the NBA.

Toronto’s Nick Nurse, the current Coach of the Year, and San Antonio’s Gregg Popovich both received 18% of the votes.

In addition, Spoelstra was also seen as the “best manager and motivator of people” by 32% of the GMs, followed by Popovich at 21% and Golden State’s Steve Kerr at 18%.

It is worth noting that Popovich was the top vote-getter in both categories last season.

Lastly, the Fil-American head coach was seen as the best mentor in making in-game adjustments, getting 26% of the votes, followed by Dallas’ Rick Carlisle (19%), Nick Nurse (15%), and Boston’s Brad Stevens (15%).

Spoelstra has earned his reputation as one of the best coaches in the NBA, often being mentioned in the same breath as legends.

It is only fitting that the tactician who started as Heat’s video coordinator has the highest respect from both his peers and NBA executives.