Entering the season, the Miami Heat were expected to be one of the NBA’s top title contenders after pairing Heat Culture with a dominant force in Giannis Antetokounmpo. They even got Klay Thompson, one of basketball’s premier shooters ever to fortify the roster and provide outside sniping.
But rather than zoom out to a strong start, Miami faltered out of the gate, suffering a brutal 0-4 start. Their struggles were sharpest on the offensive end, where they ranked in the bottom three in points, bottom six in field goal percentage and three-point percentage, and registered a –13.5 net rating.
Klay Thompson Catches Fire
But the Heat are finally starting to get on track, winning four of their last six games. At the center of that surge is Klay Thompson. The four-time champion has come alive after his struggles in the opening week, averaging 21.6 points while shooting 52% from the floor and 50% from three over their last five games. He first broke through against the Indiana Pacers, knocking down five three-pointers in the third quarter alone to power Miami to its first win of the season.
Thompson has been just as impressive on the road, scoring at least 19 points in three of the Heat’s last four away games. He came up massive against the Clippers, dropping his season-high in scoring while burying a clutch three-pointer to seal the comeback win. Then, against the Sacramento Kings, Thompson delivered once more, hitting at least seven three-pointers for the third time this season to climb to third in the NBA this season with 40 total triples.
Coach Erik Spoelstra said that Thompson will always command defensive gravity, and he has proven exactly that. With Thompson back to being an elite perimeter threat, he’s given his team more room to operate. Bam Adebayo, in particular, has benefited from the improved spacing. After he struggled early in the season, he’s been on a dominant stretch lately, averaging 22.8 points while shooting 62% from the floor. Over the Heat’s last five games, his presence has completely transformed the offense, elevating the team to seventh in scoring, top five in field goal percentage, and top 10 in three-point shooting.
Klay Thompson Shows He Still Has It
For the past few years, Thompson has been the subject of frequent criticism, with many believing that he was nearing the end of his career. While he had some inconsistencies, that narrative couldn’t be further from the truth.
In two seasons with the Dallas Mavericks, he remained a reliable offensive presence, averaging 12.9 points while shooting 38.3% from deep, and over the last four seasons, he stands as the only player to hit at least 200 three-pointers in each year. In other words, Klay Thompson was never done. Now with Miami, he is delivering a loud reminder: He remains one of the most lethal perimeter weapons in the game, jumpstarting the rise of the revamped Heat.
