Players help brighten some spirits

MIAMI — The season of joy also can be one of heartache. It is with those mixed emotions that the Miami Heat found themselves both uplifted and humbled over the past week.

As part of team and individual events, several Heat players distributed holiday gifts to the less fortunate in South Florida, with the team’s visits to Baptist Children’s Hospital and Holtz Children’s Hospital leaving indelible impressions on more than those visited.

“Just putting a smile on their faces, just seeing them at the hospital, going through what they’re going through and still being able to have a smile on their face, it puts you in a good place,” second-year center Bam Adebayo said.

“It’s such mixed emotions. You’re happy that they’re smiling in the moment, but then you have to leave and you wonder what they’re going through. And that’s an indescribable emotional ordeal. I pray for ‘em every night and they’re always going to be with me.”

In his 10th NBA season, guard Wayne Ellington said he does not take such moments for granted.

“You’ve got to sit back and you’ve got to count your blessings,” he said. “To be able to see the kids aren’t doing so well health-wise and to be able to put a smile on their face, makes you realize how fortunate we are and how blessed we are, as people and not just NBA athletes.”

Forward Josh Richardson said such moments transcend obligation.

“It means a lot to me. Where I’m from, we don’t have a lot of figures like that who were able to come back and give back to the community,” he said, raised in Edmund, Okla. “So being in a place in my life where I can have a chance to be this in someone else’s life is an opportunity that I’ll always try to take advantage of.”

Richardson said that doesn’t mean it necessarily makes it any easier.

“I just try to be as empathetic with those kids as I can,” he said. “I’ve never been in that position, where I’ve been in the hospital during the holidays. So I can only imagine what they’re going through. They’re incredibly strong to be able to put a smile on their face. Just being able to brighten a day even a tiny bit is an incredible thing.”

Among Heat holiday-related events by the team and individual players:

Rodney McGruder holiday party: In conjunction with the NBA Voices initiative, the Heat forward hosted a holiday party at Santa’s Enchanted Forest, distributing complimentary tickets along with gifts to attendees from the Women of Tomorrow organization.

Heat team hospital visits: The team visited Baptist Children’s Hospital and Holtz Children’s Hospital, distributing toys and interacting with patients.

James Johnson toy giveaway:

The Heat forward distributed toys and jerseys to children at Partners Park.

Josh Richardson toy giveaway: Richardson visited the Boys & Girls Club of South Beach, where he delivered hand-selected, wrapped toys chosen directly from

children’s wish lists.

Bam Adebayo toy drive: The Bam Foundation and the Good Hearts Foundation hosted their second-annual giving event at Dezerland Park.

Hassan Whiteside holiday shopping spree: The Heat center took 10 children from the Boys & Girls Clubs on a shopping spree, with each given a $250 gift card and assisted in their shopping by Whiteside.

Udonis Haslem holiday party:

The Heat forward and the Udonis Haslem Children’s Foundation celebrated their eighth annual Christmas Program for Exceptional Students with a holiday party. The event identified students from Miami-Dade and Broward schools who excelled academically. Gift cards worth $200 were distributed, with Haslem assisting in the shopping, participants later treated to lunch at Haslem’s Aventura restaurant.

MIAMI HEAT From left, Josh Richardson, Dwyane Wade, Kelly Olynyk and Udonis Haslem were among Heat players who attempted to spread holiday cheer at children’s hospitals over the last week.