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The Miami Heat adopted the Heat Culture under their President Pat Riley. The custom established discipline, strong work ethic, and hunger for victory among players. It is believed the culture was applied to every member of the side irrespective of players’ stature. However, Gilbert Arenas denied the claims that the culture is imposed on everyone in the team. Arenas recently appeared on his podcast ‘The Gil Arena Show’ and asserted that the culture isn’t revered by every team member. As per him, the culture when LA Lakers superstar LeBron James was associated with Miami was totally distinct from the present time.
"Norris [Cole] said it from his f***** mouth, that Heat culture when LeBron [was] there wasn't Heat culture. When LeBron left, Heat culture came. A player said it out of his mouth. He was there with LeBron to win it, and then he witnessed what Heat culture was when LeBron left. Very different rules," said Arenas. He also cited liberties enjoyed by Jimmy Butler which other players of the unit didn’t get to.
"Jimmy Butler is a superstar. You think Jimmy's rules are the same as everybody else? Because if it was, he wouldn't have been flying on his own plane when he wants to. Don't stay at the hotel. Stays at an Airbnb. Is that ‘Heat Culture?’” added Arenas.
What led to the debate on the ‘Heat Culture’?
Heat Culture became a talking point after Jimmy Butler broke ties with the team after the disagreement between him and Pat Riley, who played a pivotal role in establishing the norms. The discontent between them became the reason of suspensions handed to the Golden State Warriors guard.
Earlier, LeBron James showed up on the Pat McAfee Show on March 26 and revealed that Riley banned favourite chip cookies from team flights during his stint with Miami. “That cookies story is true. Everybody knows I love chocolate chip cookies. One flight I got on and there was no more cookies and we all know where it came from," remarked James.
