"Despite word that personal turmoil contributed to Rafer Alston's departure from the Miami Heat last week, coach Erik Spoelstra said Wednesday that "our stance is the same" when it comes to the guard's indefinite suspension without pay.

In breaking his silence about a departure that came a day after he was stripped of his starting role last Thursday, Alston told ESPN.com that his abrupt exit from the team came amid the emotional strain of his twin sister Racine's recent attempted suicide.

Spoelstra said the Heat still has yet to hear from the veteran guard beyond a single text message last Friday informing the team's trainer of his departure.

"My thoughts and prayers are with him and his family, but we still have not talked to him," Spoelstra said.

"I think we're all curious just to find out more."

In his ESPN.com interview, Alston acknowledged, "The way I handled it was wrong." He also said he decided to leave after learning, "that I wouldn't be playing anymore."

Spoelstra, who replaced Alston as his starting point guard with Carlos Arroyo, said he never communicated that to Alston.

"Actually," Spoelstra said, "he probably still would have been in the rotation, probably not with the minutes he would have liked.""