MIAMI \u2014 The \u201cbum\u201d is now a teammate. For the past week, the player he had called \u201ctrash\u201d has been lining up alongside during Miami Heat drill work.<\/p>\n
The lesson learned by second-year Heat guard Myron Gardner is how teammate twists can leave tongues tied.<\/p>\n
Last November, in a game he didn\u2019t even see action, the Heat neophyte had the temerity from his team\u2019s bench to test the patience of Dallas Mavericks guard Klay Thompson with those two aforementioned taunts, among others.<\/p>\n
As in Klay Thompson,\u00a0a Heat prized offseason addition<\/a> who is now Gardner\u2019s teammate.<\/p>\n Gulp.<\/p>\n Fortunately for Gardner, the apology process began minutes after the Heat victory 11 months ago at Kaseya Center, when Heat assistant coach Caron Butler walked Gardner to the Dallas bench to make amends after the final buzzer.<\/p>\n Air cleared.<\/p>\n Now with the ability both ways to laugh it off.<\/p>\n So Myron Gardner more annoying as opponent or teammate?<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s equal,\u201d Thompson, 36, said with a smile, as the Heat continue preparations<\/a> ahead of their Oct. 21 regular-season opener against the visiting Minnesota Timberwolves. \u201cJust like we got into our spat, he is the same Myron today.\u201d<\/p>\n Just as Gardner, 25, did not see action in that victory over the Mavericks, on a night Thompson scored 13 for Dallas, Gardner\u2019s mouth continued to motor through training camp last week at Florida Atlantic University, including \u2014 again \u2014 even while not on the court.<\/p>\n \u201cHe wasn\u2019t even in for a couple games,\u201d Thompson said of the camp scrimmages, \u201cand he was just talking mess for the (starting) team.\u201d<\/p>\n At times such as these, with real action still three weeks away, motor-mouth Myron has a way of adding needed pep to step.<\/p>\n \u201cAnd it helped,\u201d Thompson said of Gardner\u2019s support for the reserve units during training camp. \u201cIt lifted them. And you need that.\u201d<\/p>\n Having arrived from the Mavericks as a free agent, Thompson said he has come to better appreciate why the Heat tolerate and accentuate Gardner.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m learning the Heat,\u201d Thompson said. \u201cThey love guys with an edge, so I\u2019m all about Myron being himself.\u201d<\/p>\n When it comes to who he is on the court, Gardner said no apologies.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s just who I am, just playing basketball. I really don\u2019t think much of it, for real,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n For years the Heat have embraced those who previously only were viewed as enemy, be it former New York Knicks forward Anthony Mason, former Indiana Pacers center Jermaine O\u2019Neal or former Boston Celtics guard Ray Allen joining the fold.<\/p>\n Gardner said the Thompson lesson is to know when to be foe and when to be friend.<\/p>\n After Klay Thompson and Myron Gardner were chirping and were given technical fouls, assistant coach Caron Butler took Gardner to the tunnel to apologize and give Klay his respect.<\/p>\n This is awesome. pic.twitter.com\/v4mcYzxw0R<\/a><\/p>\n