Erik Spoelstra, head coach of the Heat, is generating early discussion for Coach of the Year.

Justin Backer

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Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra earning early Coach of the Year buzz image

TL;DR

  • Miami Heat have a 12-6 start, exceeding low expectations and ranking third in the Eastern Conference.
  • Coach Erik Spoelstra is a Coach of the Year candidate for overhauling the team's offensive philosophy.
  • The Heat now boast the NBA's top offense, averaging 124.9 points per game.
  • The team aims to maintain momentum and return to the playoffs in 2026.

The Miami Heat are off to a fast start to the season. Heading in with some lowly expectations, the Heat are 12-6, and third in the Eastern Conference to start the season, causing some to believe that head coach Erik Spoelstra could earn Coach of the Year honors.

Sports Illustrated’s Rachel Nichols recently revealed that Spoelstra would be one of her picks to earn the award, citing the massive overhaul in the team’s offensive philosophy this year.

“He’s the best coach,” Nichols said. “He was willing to rip up their play style. He’s the 1st person when LeBron was there to bring in position-less basketball… now he’s doing the no pick-and-rolls sorta free-form offense, it’s amazing.”

Having previously ranked among the NBA's slowest and lowest-scoring offenses for several seasons, the Heat have emerged this year as the league's top offense, topping all NBA teams with 124.9 points per game. Adding to this remarkable achievement, the team's leading scorer from the previous season, Tyler Herro, was sidelined for the initial 17 games of the season due to ankle surgery recovery.

The Heat intend to maintain this positive trajectory throughout the remainder of the season, with the goal of returning to the playoffs in 2026. Following a disappointing postseason performance last year, the Heat are embarking on a redemption journey to kick off the 2025-26 season. 

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Senior Editor