Miami Heat in love with The Bahamas
Just one day into the Miami HEAT training camp, team head coach Erik Spoelstra said yesterday that the team is already in love with The Bahamas.
“We love it here,” Spoelstra said following the team’s morning practice. "Our last experience here was terrific. We love how private it was. It's a perfect setting for our guys in between the practices just to have a very serene atmosphere but also incredible hospitality. The guys really enjoy it. There are great people here. We always see smiles everywhere you go. It makes the work that much easier.”
Spoelstra said that's the reason behind the three-time championship team's decision to return to The Bahamas.
The team is holding practice sessions at the Atlantis Resort. The resort transformed a ballroom into a double basketball court to accommodate the training camp.
Spoelstra and the Miami HEAT last held a training camp in The Bahamas in 2013.
The HEAT coach said Tuesday that the environment that Atlantis created is conducive to the training that that the team needs.
“It’s a great environment to get to work,” he said. It's fantastic. It’s a nice environment. We wanted to give these guys that kind of environment while we get things done.”
Veteran Miami HEAT player Udonis Haslem said he’s happy to be back in The Bahamas and described himself as an honorary Bahamian.
“I feel good,” he said. “I enjoy it here. I enjoy the people. I enjoy the culture, the food. Everybody’s nice, the weather is great. There are a lot of Miami heat fans here. It’s just like being home.”
Asked if he is planning any vacations to The Bahamas, he said: “I was here this summer. I vacation here all the time. I’m like an honorary Bahamian.”
Several of the players said they hope to get the opportunity to enjoy some more of the Bahamian culture while in town.
The Bahamas Ministry of Tourism pulled out all the stops to welcome the NBA team to New Providence on Monday. The group of 67 was welcomed with a colourful Junkanoo performance by Colours Junkanoo Group at Odyssey Aviation.
The training camp, which is a result of a multi-year Partnership, ends on Saturday.