Erik Spoelstra Tells Kel’el Ware, Nikola Jovic They Have To Earn Their Minutes

Erik Spoelstra Tells Kel’el Ware, Nikola Jovic They Have To Earn Their Minutes

Some NBA coaches give their young guys minutes so they can get game experience to develop. But, not Erik Spoelstra, he wants his guys to earn his minutes by meeting the Miami Heat expectations. This means taking accountability with your scouting reports, player development, and weight room obligations. From there, you will be accountable with your minutes. This applies to the young guys like Kel’el Ware and Nikola Jovic. Those guys have to earn their minutes and be accountable for them. Our own, Matt Hanifan, asked Erik Spoelstra this provided by Matt Hanifan Twitter/X account:

“Coach, Kel’el Ware and Nikola Jovic specifically have provided a spark over the last seven or eight games. What are you looking for in them just from a developmental standpoint and how do you think they can grow up?

Erik Spoelstra responded:

“I’ve talked about it, it’s just a process. It’s not going to be linear. There’s going to be great moments, then there’s going to be moments when they’re learning, competing, all the things that are coming at him on a daily basis through a fire hose. Scouting reports, player development, weight room, Miami Heat expectations. All of these things they’re handling very well and then now the accountability to minutes, minutes aren’t gifted to them but you have to earn them. We don’t care about young guys getting minutes or gaining experience that way. You really learn how to impact winning when you’re accountable to those minutes. So, we’re excited about our young core. You know, they bring something a little bit different and now you have to put it together, the whole thing together, to win games.”

Here is the video of the interaction below:

Asked Erik Spoelstra pregame about Kel’el Ware & Nikola Jovic’s recent sparks + what he wants to continue to see from them.

“Minutes are not just gifted to them–they have to earn it. … You learn how to impact winning when you're accountable in those minutes."@5ReasonsSports pic.twitter.com/a3zQLX4vqq

— Matt Hanifan (@mph_824_) January 7, 2025

Erik Spoelstra: ‘Disturbing’ to see so many head coaches fired

It sounds like Erik Spoelstra is confident in Kel’el Ware and Nikola Jovic in their minutes because they have earned them by the Miami Heat’s expectations. Spo is very clear that minutes won’t be gifted just because you’re a young guy and you should get game experience. He wants you to show him that you deserve these minutes with the work you do in practice and off the court.

Subscribe to Vendetta’s Twitch

Subscribe to Vendetta’s YouTube

Check out the Vendetta Shop

Click here for more NBA content