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LOOK: Juwan Howard celebrates with Miami Heat in locker room after Game 5 win

clayton-sayfieby: Clayton Sayfie04/27/22CSayf23

Michigan Wolverines head basketball coach Juwan Howard was on site at Game 5 of the Miami Heat vs. Atlanta Hawks series Tuesday night in Miami. A former world champion player and assistant coach for the Heat, Howard was also in attendance to support his former player at Michigan, guard Chaundee Brown.

The former Michigan guard was signed by the Hawks to a two-way deal, giving him an opportunity to impress during the Summer League this offseason and G League next season, and potentially earn a permanent roster spot down the road. Howard snapped a photo with Brown following the Hawks’ 97-94 season-ending loss.

“M Family,” Howard wrote in the caption, to which brown commented, “Always.”

Howard also visited his former team, the top-seeded Miami Heat, who are headed to the second round of the playoffs and are looking to win the East for the second time in three seasons.

The Michigan coach joined the team in the postgame locker room, dapping up players and coaches.

“It’s always a vibe when Juwan Howard comes around,” the Miami Heat wrote on Twitter. “Post Game 5 locker room energy was on 100.”

“Way to close it out!” Howard said on the video posted by the team.

Howard has remained close with the Heat ever since leaving the club for to become the Michigan head coach. He still credits the ‘Heat culture’ for what he’s brought to Ann Arbor, which includes winning the 2021 Big Ten title and five NCAA Tournament games over two events.

“There’s so many things in the Miami Heat culture that really breeds success,” Howard said in 2021. “So I look at this program here at the University of Michigan, I would be a fool if I did not implement some of the things that I learned working with the Heat. There’s a lot of Miami things that have spread into the University of Michigan’s culture.

“It’s no surprise to me that our team has really enjoyed playing with one another and why our team competes at a high level and why we’re in this position we’re in right now, because of day one, all the work they put in practice. A lot of the things we do in practice are some of the things that I have witnessed in learning from the Miami Heat and also what I have taken away. Not saying I use everything, but I would be a fool if I didn’t use some of it because that franchise is a winning franchise.”

Howard said his former teammate, LeBron James, reached out to him after his five-game suspension last season, and that others will send him messages following big wins.

“I look at my phone right now as we speak, the text messages that I receive from former teammates, whether it’s from the Heat or from other teams that I played for, it’s amazing,” Howard said before Michigan played in the 2021 Elite Eight. “The support is real. Players that I have coached, were a part of the Miami Heat, have been extremely supportive throughout.

“… [Dwyane] Wade reached out last night. Chris Bosh always communicates with me. Every person that was a part of the Fab Five, including my other teammates at the University of Michigan. They all will be wearing maize and blue, supporting. LeBron, too. LeBron has reached out and has been very supportive. But the support is real and I’m very appreciative.”