Cavs' Beilein apologizes to players for inadvertently calling them 'thugs'

Cleveland Cavaliers head coach John Beilein apologized to players individually for his use of the word "thugs" during a Wednesday film session, he confirmed to ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski.

Beilein apparently told his team it was no longer playing "like a bunch of thugs," according to Wojnarowski. Players were reportedly disturbed by the verbiage at the time.

"I didn't realize that I had said the word 'thugs', but my staff told me later I did and so I must have said it," Beilein told ESPN. "I meant to say 'slugs,' as in slow-moving. We weren't playing hard before, and now we were playing harder. I meant it as a compliment. That's what I was trying to say.

"I've already talked to eight of my players tonight, and they are telling me that they understand."

Beilein was a surprise hire by the rebuilding Cavaliers last spring after spending his entire coaching career in the college ranks - including a 12-year tenure at Michigan immediately prior to joining Cleveland.

Reports emerged in December that several Cavaliers players have taken issue with the 66-year-old's coaching style, something he later denied.