Klay Thompson appeared at his official Miami Heat introductory press conference on Tuesday, after signing a two-year deal with the team. He'll suit up next season in South Beach alongside fellow NBA champion Giannis Antetokounmpo and All-Star Bam Adebayo, as they look to contend in the Eastern Conference. Leading the way will be Erik Spoelstra, who's been at the helm for multiple NBA Finals runs, some of which brought championships to South Beach.
When asked if he had a previous basketball relationship with Spoelstra, Thompson said he didn't, but he still had nothing but praise for one of the league's top coaches. "To be honest, not really, but I know coach Spo’s story. … I know the respect he commands in the world of basketball is very high. I mean, we're from the same city, so I've heard great things," he said, adding that Spoelstra went to Jesuit High School in Oregon, where Thompson's brother also went.
"I know him, and Steve Kerr worked together for a couple of stints with Team USA, and Steve had nothing but great things to say, and so have my friends who have played for the Miami Heat. … I know it’s a demanding atmosphere and it's one that's really competitive, and that’s what attracted me to being here," Thompson also said. More news: Klay Thompson Speaks on Joining Miami Heat With Giannis Antetokounmpo Spoelstra coached Miami to back-to-back championships in 2012 and 2013. That was during the "Big Three" era featuring LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, and Chris Bosh.
He was an assistant coach on Miami's staff with Pat Riley when the team won the championships in 2006, led by Wade and Shaquille O'Neal. He also guided Miami to the Finals during the 2020 "NBA Bubble" postseason, which occurred entirely at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex at Walt Disney World in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. Miami lost to Spoelstra's former Heat player, LeBron James, and the Los Angeles Lakers in that installment of the Finals.
However, his record stands at 830-611 as he heads into a fresh NBA season with a new-look team. Many believe Thompson will start, giving the team an elite outside shooter to knock down 3-pointers, should Antetokounmpo or Adebayo draw double teams. While he joined the Heat after two seasons with the Dallas Mavericks, Thompson won four championships with a Golden State Warriors dynasty that included Steph Curry, Draymond Green, and Kevin Durant.
It seems like a win-win for all involved, with Miami now featuring multiple battle-tested individuals in Spoelstra, Thompson, and Antetokounmpo with heavy playoff experience and championships on their resumes. While the Heat aren't among the top contenders to win the NBA Finals, they prove otherwise as the season begins to develop. More news: NBA Champion Makes Bold Statement About Heat With Klay Thompson For more about the Miami Heat and the NBA, visit Newsweek Sports.
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