Miami Heat coach Eric Spoelstra was here in Manila more than a month ago to conduct a basketball camp and teach high school kids some of the fundamental skills in the sport.
Spoelstra (right) had the opportunity to mentor young NBA star Dwyane Wade.
The 38-year-old Spoelstra is a Filipino-American, being the first Fil-Am and Asian to become the head coach of an NBA team.
His father, Jon Spoelstra used to be an executive in NBA teams like the Portland Trailblazers, the Denver Nuggets, Buffalo Braves and New Jersey Nets.
Spoelstra piloted the Heat to the first round of the 2009 NBA Playoffs recently where Miami, led by the comebacking Dwyane Wade, succumbed to the Atlanta Hawks in seven games.
Though currently the youngest ever to handle the head coaching chores in the NBA, Spoelstra’s climb to the ladder of coaching success was something anyone can learn from.
In an interview at Basketball television with host Lia Cruz, which I just saw last night, Spoelstra said there was nothing superb he did on his way up to becoming the head coach of the Heat.
Instead, he simply developed the heart of serving the team at any capacity, even “to the point of picking up the dirty laundry of the players”.
From doing minor tasks, including serving as the team’s cameraman during his first few years with the Heat in mid-1990s, Spoelstra became the team’s scout, helping some of the team’s players develop their skills further till becoming Miami’s main coaching guy.
His high point was in 2006 after being instrumental in helping the Heat win the franchise’s very first NBA championship while serving under the tutelage of legendary coach Pat Riley.
We do have a vast number of Filipino coaches in the country who are talented and have the ability to be world-class as well.
But again, talent alone is not enough. Rather, it’s the willingness to be faithful in small things, in the seemingly obscure tasks you do that you become successful.
As Luke 16:10 says, “Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much.”
No one may recognize the little things you do in your school or work, but God sees it. Let Him reward faithfulness.
Photo Source: http://i2.cdn.turner.com/si/2009/writers/paul_forrester/02/02/spoelstra/wade-spoelstra.jpg