So do you feel that Ellington embodies The Culture?
Rahming: If Ellington doesn’t embody The Culture, then neither does Dion Waiters, James Johnson, Chris Andersen, Hassan Whiteside*, Mike Miller or Allen. What do all of these players have in common? Each of these players was on at least three different teams before arriving in Miami. When they got to Miami, they worked hard to improve their skill and their roster position. It was evident that these players were not wanted by any team they played for. Andersen was released by the Denver Nuggets and suspended for an entire season for a crime he didn’t commit. The Boston Celtics were trying to replace Allen with a young Avery Bradley. Whiteside got two consecutive years of DNP’s, simply because he wasn’t good enough to play for the Sacramento Kings. Think about it. There was a time in Whiteside’s career where he wasn’t even good enough to play for the Kings. He gets an asterisk here because his performance last season left a lot to be desired. The Culture mandates that you realize the situation you’re in, and capitalize on the opportunity provided to you by the Heat. Tough-minded, hard workers that are willing to be “reclaimed” is what fuels The Culture. Ellington is 30-years-old, on his seventh NBA roster, and is breaking records with his stock on the rise. How many players can you name that can say the same for their careers at age 30?
Ebrahim: 100 percent. The Man with the Golden Arm had played for six teams before finally settling in with the Heat, and hadn’t played anywhere longer than one season since 2012. The Culture isn’t just about the grind, and Ellington definitely embodies that portion of it. He lost upwards of 20 pounds in his first season, to fit the fitness level expected by the team, and works harder than almost anyone on the court when it comes to perfecting his craft. If I remember correctly, head coach Erik Spoelstra even compared his meticulousness to Allen, one of the greatest shooters of all-time. But The Culture is also about the brotherhood and giving up whatever is necessary for the team. You can really tell that he’s bought into doing whatever Spoelstra deems is necessary, and that’s another reason he probably came back to the Heat.