Miami Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra is objectively considered one of the best in the league. However, it's not just the X's and O's that rank him among the league's best. It's the intangibles that are not easily measured that are part of the reason why Spoelstra is so respected and well-regarded across the league.
Recently, Davion Mitchell gave a great example of this. During an interview, Mitchell was reflecting on his time with the Heat and shed light on how Spoelstra (basically) helped revive his NBA career. At the center of it, Spoelstra helped restore Mitchell's confidence.
“The beginning of last year I was going through a lot mentally…I didn’t feel like I was in the best shape…Spo understood that and he respected everything I do…mentally I was so messed up last year in the summer time that it was so hard to be myself…Spo still put me out there and made me grow as a player…he kind of me made me confident in a way — he just believed in me."
Davion Mitchell has found his footing with the Heat
Mitchell has been a night-and-day different player with the Heat. Through the first three and a half years of his career, Mitchell was quickly trending in the wrong direction. After spending time with the Sacramento Kings and then being traded to the Toronto Raptors, it did seem as if Mitchell was dangerously close to falling out of the league altogether.
Despite his talent, Mitchell had never gotten to a comfortable place (or found a home) through the first few years of his career. But that all changed as soon as he was acquired by the Heat. Given a new opportunity in Miami, with a coach who was willing to invest in him, it's clear that Mitchell's career trajectory shifted in a big way with Spoelstra.
In his first full season with the Heat, Mitchell averaged nine points and a career-high seven assists per game on 40 percent shooting from 3-point range. As he prepares for his first season playing next to Giannis Antetokounmpo, many expect Mitchell to have an even better year.
Not only do we see how everything has shifted for Mitchell during his time in Miami, but we can also see why Spoelstra is such a great NBA coach. It's quite clear to see how his influence and impact on players go well beyond just the X's and O's.
Sure, Spoelstra is one of the best schematic coaches in the league, but you can't overlook the intangibles that come with his excellence as well. It's part of what makes Spoelstra so great.
Interestingly enough, it's also part of why Mitchell has been able to get his career back on track with the Heat.
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