Getty Dewayne Dedmon #21 of the Miami Heat celebrates a three pointer against the Milwaukee Bucks during the first half at FTX Arena on October 21, 2021 in Miami, Florida.
The Miami Heat‘s backup center Dewayne Dedmon let frustration get the best of him while playing against the Chicago Bulls on Saturday, November 28. With just 11:07 left in the fourth quarter, the 7-foot center walked toward the bench and kicked a chair, which sent the seat cushion flying into the stands.
Dedmon was ejected following the incident, during which fans sitting in nearby seats were hit by the chair’s padding. After the 32-year-old veteran exited the game, the Heat were still able to secure a 107-104 win over the Bulls.
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During the postgame conference, Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra spoke to the media about Dedmon’s ejection. The undrafted center of Southern California was not reprimanded, in fact, it was quite the opposite. Spoelstra dubbed him the Player of the Game.
Coach Spoelstra said he made Dewayne Dedmon, who was ejected for kicking a chair into the stands, the player of the game.
The Miami Heat, folks.
“I think he underestimated how strong he was,” Spoelstra said, per Miami Herald’s Anthony Chiang. “I did not see it. [James Williams] and the officiating crew basically interpreted the letter of the law on it that I guess the pad went into the stands. But that was not Dewayne’s intention at all. So when we brought it in, we made him player of the game.”
Dewayne Dedmon has been ejected from the game after kicking a chair on the bench and having the cushion fly into the stands.
Dedmon was clearly not happy about the ejection. After the ref’s call, he put a towel over his head and stormed into the locker room.
Spoelstra Calls Dedmon ‘So Vital’ to the Heat’s Roster
Dewayne Dedmon throws it 𝐃𝐎𝐖𝐍 🔨
📽️: @NBA | #HeatCulture
While Dedmon was brought in last season to provide backup for Heat’s starting center Bam Adebayo, he’s provided so much more to the team than being a reliable stand-in.
“He has been so vital to our team,” Spoelstra said. “He’s a big big, as Pat [Riley] likes to say, and he makes his presence felt. Defensively, he’s one of our best communicators, if not our best communicator. He’s big at the rim. He protects the rim. He gives us a different kind of feel at that center position than Bam.
“And he has a great knack for the ball — offensive rebounding, sliding into open spots, making himself available so he can finish in the paint. And he has a good touch for a big. We couldn’t be happier with the minutes and productivity he’s giving from that position.”
Dedmon Has 1 Primary Goal as a Heat Player This Season
Dewayne Dedmon tonight (17 minutes):
🔥14 PTS
🔥9 REB
🔥6-9 FG
🔥1 STL
🔥+12
He’s up to 7.3 points and 7.3 rebounds in 15.7 minutes per game through four contests. #HEATCulture
Dedmon continues to make the most of his minutes off the bench, and his only goal this season is to keep providing second-chance opportunities for the Heat’s offensive stars to score points, and keeping opponents from receiving second-chance opportunities.
“Get as many rebounds as possible,” Demon said. “It’s just something that I’ve always kind of hung my hat on since I was young in the league. I used to talk to my trainer and my agent and stuff, and we used to talk about how elite rebounders average like one rebound every three minutes. So I try to do more than that, if I can. That’s what my focus is.”
Dewayne Dedmon: “I mean Tyler’s a bucket. So anytime T gets the ball I think it’s going in.”
“Anytime the ball’s going through the hoop it makes it easier to play defense on the other end.”
Part Tyler Herro’s breakout success thus far this season can be credited to Dedmon creating space for him to score.
“It’s very important, especially when you got Tyler Herro coming off the bench with you,” Dedmon said of screening. “Like I tell him, I’m setting the screens for you to get open so you can get the shot. That’s what you do. You score. You’re a scorer. So any time I can get him open to get to his moves or whatever he needs, it’s a successful play for me.”
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Heat’s Big Man Ejected After Kicking Chair Into the Stands [VIDEO]