The New York Knicks and Miami Heat have a real rivalry brewing. Despite the bad blood, Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra has shown some love for Knicks star point guard Jalen Brunson.
Brunson’s Knicks matched up with Spoelstra’s Heat in the 2023 playoffs, with the Heat coming out on top in six games in the Eastern Conference Semifinals. Outside of the NBA, Brunson has been a part of Team USA, where Spoelstra is part of the coaching staff.
As such, the two have gotten time to familiarize themselves with each other. Spoelstra recently spoke about his relationship with the Knicks’ point guard.
“I really enjoyed my time working with him during the World Cup,” Spoelstra said. “I mentioned it to him, I really dislike myself. I can’t look at myself in the mirror for how much I grew to like him. He texted me the other day and I told him my two sons are Jalen Brunson fans.”
The two teams are sure to cross paths again this season, as both have playoff aspirations. It may not be the Knicks-Heat rivalry of the 90’s, but the new era still has plenty of respect for each other’s game, and is sure to produce more iconic moments in the foreseeable future.
More Heat news:
- Zach Lowe proposes bold Miami Heat trade for Dallas Mavericks superstar
- Demarcus Cousins and Chandler Parsons are confident in Heat’s ceiling this season
- Heat insider explains why Pat Riley, Miami might take a gamble on Ja Morant