READ RELATED TOPICS HERE…

You have to compete with yourself” – Josh Richardson shares how Erik Spoelstra forced him to make 70 out of 100 triples on an off-day

If you played for the Heat, you were expected to put in an insane amount of work.

As a rookie in 2015 who was trying to find a way to break into the rotation of the veteran-laden Miami Heat, Josh Richardson knew he had to bring more to the table than just defense and athleticism. As a mediocre three-point shooter in the NCAA, while playing for Tennessee, J-Rich had to put in work to avoid becoming a liability on offense.

So, on one off-day, the 6-foot-5 wingman went to the Heat’s training facility to get some shots up. With no coaches around, he asked an intern to rebound the ball as he attempted and made shots around the arc. However, just as he was about to finish his session, Heat coach Erik Spoelstra walked in and began one of the most strenuous workouts Josh has ever had to go through.

Corner threes

No matter how skilled a player was in college, breaking into an NBA rotation isn’t as easy as most people think. You must understand that as a young guy, you’re competing against grizzled veterans who aren’t going to give up their spot easily.

J-Rich was aware of this dynamic and knew he had to earn every second he was given. With Spo joining him on the practice floor, Richardson was put through grueling drills that exhausted him.