The disadvantage of this season’s schedule for the Miami Heat is Thanksgiving on the road. An advantage is having a day off to recover, before completing this four-game trip on Saturday night against the Chicago Bulls at the United Center.
This time around, it is Kyle Lowry who made the arrangements for a team get-together during the three-day stay in Chicago.
Back in 2013, it was LeBron James hosting the team for Thanksgiving at his Akron home, following the Heat’s victory the previous night in Cleveland.
And, no, the social media from that afternoon was not exactly flattering, with then-and-now team captain Udonis Haslem posting social-media photos of Dwyane Wade, Chris Bosh, Ray Allen, Mario Chalmers, Michael Beasley and assistant coach Bob McAdoo all in various states of post-carb naps.
“It just started with one and then everybody just started dropping like flies and I was just getting them,” Haslem said at the time. “I was just having fun with it. It was a good day. We were all together and just having fun.”
The Heat managed to regain their bearings sufficiently to win the following night in Toronto.
To Lowry, as was his tradition while with the Toronto Raptors, it is important to provide a familial approach to the holiday, even when family can’t be part of the process.
“It’s a holiday where we celebrate the holiday as what it is,” Lowry told the Sun Sentinel ahead of Wednesday night’s game against the Minnesota Timberwolves. “But it’s a time for us to be together, a time to be around your friends and family.
“So we’ll not necessarily be around our friends and family. So why not bring it together? Because we are a family during the season, we’re together. So take the time and the opportunity to kind of be together as a team and have a good meal.”
In addition to the gathering at James’ home, the Heat have had similar eat-a-thons at Shaquille O’Neal’s home over the years, with Allen’s mother also having catered meals while the Heat have been on the road.
Coach Erik Spoelstra said Lowry insisted on taking charge of Thursday’s gathering.
“As soon as the schedule came out,” Spoelstra told the Sun Sentinel, “he was already targeting that as an opportunity to do something, in addition to his giving nature. And everybody’s away from home. That’s part of the business. We prefer to be at home, but, you know, it happens.
“And we’re really grateful for his thoughtfulness and generosity, and an opportunity for everybody, if they don’t have plans, to go there, to know that we have somewhere to go.”
Lowry said the NBA lifestyle allows for thanks year-round, so he hardly views such scheduling as hardship.
“We’re able to provide for our families,” he said, having signed a three-year, $85 million free-agent contract in the offseason. “And if I wanted to, I could have my family there. We’re able. We’re paid very well, where we can have it done. So I’m not complaining about that.
“My family and friends, everyone’s family and friends, they understand what the situation is that we’re in, and we appreciate being able to play basketball for a living. So there’s no reason for us to complain. Of course you want to be around family and friends during those special times, but when it’s not possible, it’s not possible. It’s a part of the job.”
But it will be a holiday homecoming for at least one member of the roster.
“I still got a home there,” said forward Jimmy Butler, who began his NBA career with the Bulls, “so I get to go there and lay in my own bed, have my people over for Thanksgiving and have a good time.”
