Hassan Whiteside made a young Heat fan’s night by tossing him a warmup shirt as he walked off the floor Tuesday night, following the Heat’s 121-100 preseason win against the visiting Brooklyn.
Prior to the game, the Heat paid tribute to Jose Fernandez, the late Miami ace right-handed pitcher.
NBA Roundup: Heat pay tribute to Jose Fernandez with shirts, silence. @bytimreynolds https://t.co/m6DpdLdUpW
— AP Sports (@AP_Sports) October 12, 2016
The two squads also locked arms during the national anthem in a show of unity.
Per the AP:
The 24-year-old Fernandez and two friends died last month when the boat they were riding in crashed into a jetty off Miami Beach.
“It was a devastating blow to all of us in South Florida and our hearts go out to his family and everybody at the Marlins,” Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said. “It’s just so tragic for a player so young. We also want to acknowledge the other two gentlemen who were on that boat as well, and their families.”
(Marlins second baseman Dee) Gordon told Fox Sports Florida during their broadcast of the game that when he heard about the gesture — the Heat announced it a few hours before game time — he made arrangements to be at the game. Gordon wore one of the team’s shooting shirts with the Fernandez tribute on the back. […] “He was the heart and soul of Miami. … It’s just still weird that he’s gone,” Gordon said. “That’s just the part we’re trying to get over, but I think it’s going to be tough.”
