John Beilein issues heartfelt apology to Cavaliers players for 'bunch of thugs' gaffe

Cleveland Cavaliers coach John Beilein has found himself caught between a rock and a hard place this week. In an off-day film session in a Detroit hotel earlier this week, the Cavaliers coach wanted to point out the team's lax approach in the NBA this season. In the process, John Beilein uttered a bizarre statement that led to an awkward silence in the room, according to an American sports channel's report. Now, the Cavaliers coach has issued an emotional apology to the Cavaliers. 

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John Beilein apology: Cavaliers coach apologises to players

John Beilein was quoted as telling the Cavaliers players that they wore no longer "playing like a bunch of thugs". When a blank silence fell over the room, the report states that the Cleveland Cavaliers coach realised the weight of his words. Beilein then corrected himself by saying that he meant to say the word "slugs" instead of "thugs", in reference to the Cavaliers' sluggish approach in the later stages of the games this season. 

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With a number of African-American players on the Cavaliers' roster, the damage was already done. However, John Beilein has now issued an apology to the players for his "bunch of thugs" statement. Beilein also reportedly met Cavaliers' General Manager Koby Altman after the incident. Altman is then reported to have spoken to the players in order to get a sense of their views regarding Beilein's statement. 

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