Ira Winderman: The Boca bond endures between Heat, Erik Spoelstra, Dusty May

Ira Winderman, South Florida Sun-Sentinel on Nov 1, 2026

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MIAMI — Erik Spoelstra has had similar moments before, coaching against a mentor in Stan Van Gundy and against a protege in David Fizdale.

But Monday at Kaseya Center was different.

No, Dusty May never coached alongside Erik Spoelstra and, yet, as with many coaches in South Florida during Spoelstra’s 19-year tenure as Heat coach, a bond was forged.

It was, in fact, just three years ago that the two could be seen huddling at Florida Atlantic University during yet another Heat training camp in Boca Raton, Spoelstra’s Heat coming off an appearance in the NBA Finals, May off an appearance with FAU in the NCAA’s Final Four.

It was a moment that oozed sideline success.

And, as we learned Monday, one that was part of enduring respect.

In the interim, Spoelstra had hired May’s son Jack as a Heat video intern, signed Vlad Goldin out of May’s Michigan program, and, as we learned during the coaches’ pregame interviews before the Mavericks defeated the Heat on Monday night, for years has huddled with May numerous times in meetings of basketball minds.

So Spoelstra still in the same space as Heat coach.

But since those informal conversations during that 2023 Heat training camp at FAU, May went on to become a championship coach last April in Michigan and now stands as Mavericks coach.

“It’s happened fast,” Spoelstra said of May’s rise up the basketball charts. “When he was at FAU, we got to know him, and we were fans from afar.

“And then got to know him, ironically, better and more often when we were able to see him when he went to Michigan, because of Jack, his son, being in our video room. He would fly down three or four times a year, stop by the gym and everything.”

Sharing thoughts.

And, it turns out, stealing thoughts.

“I came down, I probably watched 50 practices or workouts in the offseason,” May said of the Heat’s sessions. “Spent a couple training camps with him, so a lot of what we do has been things that we’ve stolen from them, and from studying and watching them and finding creative ideas.”

And, technically, stolen staff, having not only hired his son away from the Heat, but also adding former Heat shooting coach Rob Fodor.

All while also keeping tabs on another element of the Heat/FAU connection, Goldin the center for FAU’s 2023 Final Four team before moving on with May to Michigan.

“A lot of us got together at his wedding this summer,” May said of the Heat 7-footer who is under two-way contract for a second year. “Just incredibly happy for him to be in this organization, to be developing as he is and just waiting on his opportunity.”

Unlike Spoelstra, May’s has been a career of constant movement, as assistant at Eastern Michigan, Murray State, Alabama-Birmingham, Louisiana Tech and Florida, then coach at FAU from 2018-24, then on to Michigan from 2024-26, and now guiding Cooper Flagg and the Mavericks.

“I think we’re all wired differently as people,” May, 49, said of his odyssey compared to Spoelstra’s stability. “I’ve been a basketball vagabond even as a young assistant, and I thought it was a great thing other than what it does to your family, because you meet so many different people.

“Whenever you’re on a quest to become the best you can be, I think as many experiences, as many basketball opportunities you can find, get. I’m so grateful to learn from all the players and assistant coaches and head coaches that I’ve worked for.”

But that doesn’t preclude respect for the Heat’s commitment to continuity.

“Obviously, they have their way of doing it here, and if you can hang on, hopefully I can hang on,” he said. “They have been successful as long as they have, that’s obviously the gold standard. My path was just a little bit different.”

But, Spoelstra, 55, said, one worthy of the respect afforded with this NBA opportunity.

“He’s a heck of a coach,” Spoelstra said. “There’s no doubt about it. He can have success like he had staying in college, but the way he coaches, I think, is built for the NBA.

“It’s really a credit to his communication skills, and he’s relentless as a learner.”