Cleveland Cavaliers coach John Beilein is under some intense fire after a film session Wednesday with his players had him stating they weren’t playing “like a bunch of thugs” anymore.
The comment rubbed a lot of people the wrong way.
Citing league sources, ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reported that players “left the room initially stunned and were increasingly disturbed.”
Beilein later spoke to ESPN about the incident and said that he meant to say “slugs.”
“I didn’t realize that I had said the word ‘thugs,’ but my staff told me later I did and so I must have said it,” Beilein explained. “I meant to say slugs, as in slow moving. We weren’t playing hard before, and now we were playing harder. I meant it as a compliment. That’s what I was trying to say. I’ve already talked to eight of my players tonight, and they are telling me that they understand.”
It was back in May 2019 when the Cavs signed the 66-year-old to a 5-year deal to coach the team.
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The Cavaliers are 10-27 and in the midst of a 5-game losing streak.
