Erik Spoelstra describes the ‘honour of a lifetime’ as the new US coach

MIAMI – With news of Fr Miami Heat’s Erik Spoelstra is the new coach of the USA men’s basketball teamwill be presented Thursday afternoon at the Kaseia Center. As Spoelstra is looking to bring the Heat standard to the national stagehe spoke about his feelings about this important event.

Speaking to the media at a press conference after Miami’s practice on Thursday, Spoelstra and USA Basketball’s general manager Grant Hill would sit together to express their thoughts in motion. Spoelstra would start by saying how it is “honor of life” be new Team USA head coach, succeeding Steve Kerr, and mentioned how he took the position with ease when it was offered.

The Heat’s longtime head coach would also tout many in the organization, especially president Pat Riley, as his mentor.

“It’s the honor of a lifetime, and my experience over the last two summers has been so transformative,” Spoelstra said. “I understand the expectations and the responsibility of the position, but I’m thrilled to be a head coach, and obviously you don’t get to this point without a lot of other amazing people. And, you know, I want to point out Nick Arison, his dad, Mickey. They created this culture.”

“My father has been a big influence in my life as a basketball player, but the biggest mentor, basketball mentor in my life has been Coach Riley, and I would never be in this position without the success we’ve had here in Miami,” Spoelstra continued. “And I know there will be reflections on the culture of the Miami Heat, which we feel strongly about, but the culture of American basketball is one of great history.”

Erik Spoelstra’s opening statement on being the next head coach of USA Basketball. He calls it “the honor of life…”

Full comments: #HeatNation pic.twitter.com/0P1Mu0P6G8

— Zachary Weinberger (@ZachWeinberger) October 16, 2025

Heat’s Erik Spoelstra on “call to action” for American players

While it is The Heat head coach reacted to the newsit was no doubt a special afternoon for the 54-year-old, whose family attended and even got a special visit from the Miami team, who celebrated the news. Spoelstra told ClutchPoints on Thursday that what it’s like to be around Team USA “priceless” as an assistant coach and even before that, when Gregg Popovich was the head coach.

Asked Erik Spoelstra about whether he has fallen in the footsteps of previous US HCs like Steve Kerr, Gregg Popovich, etc. and what it means for him.

He would talk about the invaluable experience he had working with Kerr and the time he spent with Pop when he was HC USA. #HeatNation pic.twitter.com/r5k1ApKC33

— Zachary Weinberger (@ZachWeinberger) October 16, 2025

Looking to defend the gold medal won in Paris, France, Spoelstra will begin his cycle with the FIBA ​​World Championship and then the 2028 Olympics on home soil, sending a message to American players as “call to action.”

“Competition is what it’s all about,” Spoelstra said. “And now the competition for the ’28 Olympics is on our home soil and that absolutely has to excite you. We don’t have to talk about who those players are going to be yet. I mean, there’s time for that, but there’s a call to action. This is the time for America’s best players to raise their hand and want to play on this team, because I mentioned a few minutes in this competition, because I mentioned ‘before, it’s real, you have to want this, you have to embrace it, you have to absolutely feel alive to the challenge of it all, and that’s the beauty of it.”

Erik Spoelstra says “there’s a call to action” for U.S. players to represent and play, especially in the 2028 Olympics on American soil.

“This is the time for America’s best players to raise their hands and want to play…” #HeatNation pic.twitter.com/8SHPrdmAIB

— Zachary Weinberger (@ZachWeinberger) October 16, 2025

Either way, Spoelstra will now focus on improving the Heat with the regular season starting on Oct. 22 against the Orlando Magic.