John Beilein says “thug” comment is ‘something I have to learn from’

At the team’s shootaround on Thursday in Detroit, Cavs head coach John Beilein publicly addressed him saying Cavs players were playing like “thugs” in a film session this week.

“Yesterday in a film session, I used a word — I meant to say ‘slug’ and ‘thug’ came out,’” Beilein said. “It was brought to my attention a couple hours later. I called all the players afterwards, explained the situation. We met about it today, I apologized about it today as well. It was never intended and I think the players understand that now. It’s something I have to learn from.”

Additionally, Kevin Love and Larry Nance Jr. both addressed the comment.

“I didn’t think there was any malice or intent behind it to upset us or anger us,” Love said. “Obviously it wasn’t good, the reaction after the fact. But at the end of the day as a person, he’s a good man. He misspoke. He owned up to it and came in here and apologized this morning and now we move on.”

”This is all about taking accountability,” Nance said. “Had he ran from it, it’d be one thing. But he apologized to us individually, apologized to us as a team today. We all make mistakes.”

By all indications, the Cavs will be keeping Beilein as their head coach. The team plays tonight in Detroit at the start of a six-game road trip that ends on Jan. 18 in Chicago.