According to Chet Holmgren, Miami basketball fans don’t bring the Heat to their home arena.
On Wednesday, the 22-year-old was featured on the “Road Trippin” podcast and dealt out a balmy response when questioned about his favorite opposing arenas to play in.
“I like Miami,” said Holmgren.
“Because it’s just, like, empty.”
Co-host Channing Frye – who played in the NBA for 13 seasons and six teams – couldn’t help but laugh before chiming in, throwing another jab toward Heat fans.
“We know what you mean,” Frye said.
“They come in late. They’re like, ‘First quarter? Ah don’t worry about that first quarter.'”
Holmgren added what he perceives playing as the visiting team is like.
“You just gotta build that lead in the first three quarters, and then it just stays quiet for the fourth.”
Even Miami Heat superstar Jimmy Butler would agree with the claim.
A month before Holmgren’s quote, Butler addressed the topic in an interview with Complex.
“Our fans never show up on time. They never show up on time,” Butler said. “And I’m just like, ‘Damn.’ I want it to be rocking from like the jump ball.”
Although, out of the three – Holmgren, Butler and Frye – the Thunder’s big man has the least exposure to the arena.
His sample size is just a mere regular season game due to his rookie season being plagued by a right foot injury.
Miami Heat fans are notorious for having left the former American Airlines Arena early during Game 6 of the 2013 NBA Finals against the San Antonio Spurs.
Fans started to pour out when the Heat were down by five with 22 seconds remaining, but Miami did the impossible thanks to Ray Allen – who drilled a game-tying three with 5.2 seconds left en route to an overtime win.
ABC News Correspondent Victor Oquendo witnessed the madness live; he was outside the arena when it happened.
“Honestly embarrassing,” Oquendo wrote on X. “I’m setting up for my live shot outside the arena, just watching fan after fan exit early.”
Miami Heat fans have felt the recent radiance, which sparked a debate across social media platforms.
One user noted on X, “The traffic is always terrible, bro wants me to leave 2 hours early ????,” in response to Butler.
Conversely, another added, “I’m a Heat fan who moved out of state. And it pisses me off seeing that. I know Miami traffic is crazy, but I feel like nobody even tries to get out earlier.”