For the second consecutive day, the Miami Heat organization had a personal stake in celebrating an NCAA national championship. The good vibes started Sunday when Heat forward Jaime Jaquez Jr. was in Phoenix to cheer on his sister, Gabriela, as she helped UCLA capture the women's title.
The celebration continued Monday night, this time centered on former Florida Atlantic University coach Dusty May. May, who led Michigan to the men's national championship, shares a deep history with the Heat, having hosted the team's training camps in Boca Raton during his tenure with the Owls.
The connections run even deeper than a shared practice facility. May's son, Jack, has spent the last two seasons as a video intern with the Heat, leaving the team Monday to witness his father's championship victory in person. Furthermore, Heat two-way center Vlad Goldin played under May during FAU's magical Final Four run in 2023 before following his coach to Michigan last season.
Ahead of Miami's game against the Toronto Raptors, Head Coach Erik Spoelstra spoke glowingly of May's accomplishment and their relationship. "We practice up at FAU, but just to see his climb and what he's done... we were all rooting for Michigan. I think that's safe to say," Spoelstra remarked.
He quickly amended that statement with a laugh, noting that Heat assistant Caron Butler, a proud UConn alum, was undoubtedly cheering for the opposing Huskies in the title game. "Because of Jack and because of our relationship with Dusty, we were rooting for him," Spoelstra clarified.
Spoelstra's respect for May is immense, praising him as the complete package. "He's a basketball coach and mentor, leader, and teacher. I've learned a lot from him in our interactions," Spoelstra said. "In this modern day of the NCAA, he's found a way to be successful. People will talk about how they had all the transfers. That's hard to do."
It's a testament to the interconnected world of basketball, where professional and collegiate paths frequently cross, creating shared moments of triumph that resonate throughout the sport.