Talk about coming in clutch.
It’s hard to think about the modern day Miami Heat and not think of Erik Spoelstra. He’s become synonymous with the South Beach NBA team, and the path of how he got there is a classic “pull up your sleeves and work hard” story.
The head coach of the Miami Heat first started out with the team in 1995 as a video coordinator, and slowly but surely worked his way up the ranks until he sat at the very top (or stood, I guess head coaches don’t sit down all that much) and won two NBA Championships.
The 53-year old head coach has consistently led hard-working, seemingly not as talented teams deep into the NBA playoffs, and the practice of doing so often ties in with what some sports minds call, and the Miami Heat themselves, call “Heat Culture.”
His recent success with Jimmy Butler (certified country music fan) led teams really gave the Miami Heat no choice but to sign him to an extension, and that they did. How does an eight-year, $120-plus million deal sound?
It seems like everything has been going Erik Spoelstra’s way as of late, if you disregard the fact that he and his wife of seven years Nikki Spoelstra just got divorced late last year.
However, the timing of everything has caught the eye of those on social media. Is it possible that the Miami Heat waited to give Erik Spoelstra his massive, lucrative extension until after his divorce was finalized?
It’s been two months since the Miami Heat head coach and the former Miami Heat dancer has officially and formally ended their marriage.
That has caused some on social media to say that she “fumbled the bag,” and Nikki quickly responded to those trolls by issuing a statement on her Instagram story:
“Lol. I’m going to address this comment NOT as it pertains to my personal life choices but as it relates to a general thought process that I believe a lot of people have and that a lot of people have harassed me with over the years.
According to crass, ignorant, uninformed society at large, women can’t ‘win.’ Women can’t be genuinely in love with someone successful. No, they’re pretending and they’re in it for the money. And if a woman chooses to not be with a successful partner, apparently she’s an idiot.
And no, I won’t ignore it. IgNoRiNg iT (harassment) for years messed with my emotional health and people need to have a better understanding of how their words can affect other people. Not just me. But people. In general. Be nicer.”
Clearly the “fumbled the bag” jokes aren’t so funny to her, but the average person can’t help but notice the peculiar (some might say coincidental) timing of the divorce and the multi-million dollar extension…
Then again, it’s not like Erik was broke before they got divorced… she’ll be alright.
