Eddie Johnson — who previously played for the Phoenix Suns and currently serves as a color commentator for the team – threw a punch at fans of the Miami Heat on social networks.
Interesting. Check in when you climb to that 24th place, @Suns 😉 https://t.co/7nKV3L9GaO pic.twitter.com/kXH7INa2zn
— Miami Heat (@MiamiHEAT) August 15, 2024
The tense exchange was sparked by a post from Phoenix’s official X page (formerly known as Twitter) this week after the NBA schedule for the upcoming 2024-25 regular season was made available to the public.
For each team on their schedule, the Suns dedicated a post to the opposing fan base, and for their post about Heat fans, they included a photo of an empty arena.
Miami’s official X account responded with a screenshot of the league’s attendance report for the 2023-24 regular season. The screenshot shows that the Heat averaged the fourth-most fans per home game of any team in the league a season ago, while the Suns averaged just 25th.
Johnson responded by implying that Heat fans often arrive late while Suns fans are on time.
The Suns and Heat enjoyed similar collective success in the 2023-24 campaign. Phoenix finished the regular season with 49 wins and 6th place in the Western Conference, while Miami finished with 46 wins and 8th place in the Eastern Conference.
Both teams did not stay alive for very long in the 2024 NBA Playoffs. The Heat were eliminated by the Boston Celtics — who won their 18th title in franchise history in June — in five games in the first round. The Suns, meanwhile, fared even worse than the Heat, as the team was swept by Anthony Edwards and the Minnesota Timberwolves in the first round.
But the Heat have accomplished more as a franchise from a historical perspective. After all, Miami has won three titles as a franchise — in 2006, 2012 and 2013 — and the Suns have yet to win a title in franchise history, despite the team reaching the NBA Finals earlier this decade in 2021.
Johnson’s recent comments on social media regarding Heat fans could cause tension between the two supporters. Fans of both teams should keep an eye on their calendars to see when the teams will play each other next season.
