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Heat's Erik Spoelstra to Coach Team Durant at 2022 NBA All-Star Game

Erin WalshFebruary 6, 2022

Miami Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra talks to his players during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the San Antonio Spurs, Thursday, Feb. 3, 2022, in San Antonio. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)
AP Photo/Eric Gay

Miami Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra will coach Team Durant at the 2022 NBA All-Star Game in Cleveland, the NBA announced Sunday.

Spoelstra is the first coach in Heat history to coach multiple All-Star Games, having last done so in 2013.

Spoelstra was named head coach of Team Durant after his Heat took over the top spot in the Eastern Conference with the Chicago Bulls' 119-108 loss to the Philadelphia 76ers on Sunday. Miami holds a half-game lead atop the Eastern Conference standings at 34-20.

According to the NBA's communications department (h/t CBSSports.com's Jack Maloney), this is the first time since 2013 that the race to become an All-Star Game head coach has come down to the final day.

Spoelstra is in his 14th season leading the Heat. The 51-year-old was named head coach ahead of the 2008-09 season and has a 641-444 record since taking over. He has also led Miami to the playoffs in 10 of his 14 seasons.

The Heat have reached the NBA Finals five times under Spoelstra, winning it all in 2012 and 2013. They're also primed to make another deep run in the postseason after adding veteran guard Kyle Lowry during the offseason to pair with Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo.

In addition to Spoelstra, Butler will represent the Heat in Cleveland. He was named a reserve behind Kevin Durant, Giannis Antetokounmpo, DeMar DeRozan, Joel Embiid and Trae Young.

Coaching Team LeBron will be Phoenix Suns bench boss Monty Williams. The 50-year-old once again has the Suns atop the Western Conference standings with a 42-10 record and was recently named Western Conference Coach of the Month for January.