Klay Thompson will start the Miami Heat’s preseason opener Saturday, marking his first action as a member of the defending Eastern Conference contenders alongside Giannis Antetokounmpo and Bam Adebayo.
The lineup represents Thompson’s intended role in Erik Spoelstra’s system: a starting two-guard tasked with spacing the floor on offense while shouldering selective defensive duties as the Heat attempt to avoid another play-in tournament appearance.
What Klay Thompson brings
Thompson, 36, arrives in Miami as one of the best shooters in NBA history, though the numbers have declined. He shot a career-worst 38.3% from three-point range last season with the Dallas Mavericks while dealing with injuries. Still, the open looks created by Antetokounmpo and Adebayo should help him recover some of that accuracy.
On defense, Thompson has set realistic expectations. He knows he cannot be a lockdown defender against every opponent night after night at his age, but he wants to prove he can be reliable in spurts. “I want to be a plus defender.
I want to guard 2-5 effectively,” Thompson said. “Obviously marking the best player all night isn’t my forte anymore, but I can do it in spurts.”
He will be backed by Davion Mitchell and Andrew Wiggins, who serve as the Heat’s primary point-of-attack defenders.
The Heat’s championship aspirations
Bam Adebayo pushed back against critics who predicted another play-in appearance, saying the additions of Giannis and Thompson represent a fundamental shift. “We just got one of the best shooters ever and one of the top-three players in our league,” Adebayo said. “But we’re a play in team?”
The Heat made the play-in tournament in each of the last four seasons. The goal now is to finish in the top six of the Eastern Conference and avoid that fate entirely.
Thompson’s role off the bench
Pelle Larsson is expected to be the first substitution off the bench for Thompson, allowing Spoelstra to rotate wings while maintaining defensive versatility. The lineup flexibility, keeping either Adebayo or Giannis on the floor at all times, gives the Heat depth at nearly every position.
The preseason will reveal whether Thompson can stay healthy and effective in Miami’s high-tempo system, which Giannis described as “insane” during the opening days of training camp.
What’s next
The Heat’s preseason continues over the coming weeks before the 2026-27 regular season begins in October.
Reporting from Bleacher Report, Sports Illustrated and Sporting News contributed to this story.
