Linked below are four good reads on the NBA’s most unique culture: the Miami Heat’s. While the rest of the NBA has shifted towards a philosophy of rest and recovery, the Heat have doubled-down on their intense culture and reaffirmed their mission to be “the hardest working, most professional, most unselfish, toughest, nastiest, most disliked, most prepared team in the NBA.”

-The Vertical: Why Erik Spoelstra and the Heat don’t believe in tanking (LINK)

-Zach Lowe: Can the Heat’s “Jungle” win big? (LINK)

-NBA.com video: “Miami Heat Culture” (LINK)

-The Woj Pod: Erik Spoelstra (LINK)

-HoopsHype: A behind-the-scenes look at the Miami Heat’s intense culture (LINK)

-Clinic notes: Erik Spoelstra on the Heat culture, the most popular series in the NBA, and his first meeting with LeBron (LINK)