MIAMI — Klay Thompson says he already feels proper at dwelling in Miami, and there are the reason why that makes good sense.
Mychal Thompson, his father, starred for a staff that gained a highschool state title at Miami Jackson Excessive in 1974. Mychel Thompson, his brother, went to the identical highschool in Oregon that Warmth coach Erik Spoelstra attended. He is by no means had an opportunity to reside this near the various family members he has within the close by Bahamas. And if all that wasn’t sufficient, the information convention the place Thompson was getting launched Tuesday as the most recent Warmth participant began a bit late due to Miami’s infamous visitors.
“I do know it is a demanding environment,” Thompson mentioned. “That is what attracted me to being right here.”
Thompson — who’s No. 4 on the NBA’s all-time 3-pointers made record — cleared waivers Sunday following his buyout from the Dallas Mavericks and wasted little time finalizing a two-year deal later that day to play alongside Giannis Antetokounmpo, Bam Adebayo and his former Golden State teammate Andrew Wiggins in Miami. The second season of the take care of the Warmth is at Thompson’s choice.
He left about $10 million on the desk to get an opportunity to play for Miami and says the chance to win is what mattered.
“I’ve tasted successful earlier than and there is actually nothing prefer it,” mentioned Thompson, who was a part of 4 NBA title groups with Golden State within the years when he and Warriors guard Stephen Curry had been the “Splash Brothers” duo that modified the sport with their prolific 3-point taking pictures. “The chance to win once more at a really excessive stage was so engaging to me.”
He is a five-time All-Star, holds the league report with 14 made 3s in a sport, has linked on at the least 10 3s in a sport 9 instances and can enter this season simply 74 3s behind Ray Allen — a former Warmth guard — for third place on the league’s all-time record.
It is the newest huge transfer for the Warmth this summer season. They acquired Antetokounmpo and Bobby Portis from Milwaukee in a deal that noticed them ship Tyler Herro, Jaime Jaquez Jr., Kel’el Ware and Kasparas Jakucionis to the Bucks. In addition they signed one other big-time 3-point menace in Tim Hardaway Jr., who grew up in Miami whereas his father was enjoying for the Warmth.
“There’s going to be plenty of eyeballs on our staff this yr,” Spoelstra mentioned. “That is what we needed.”
Spoelstra mentioned Thompson is “among the best who’s ever carried out it” and raved about what he is bringing to Miami.
“We’re very enthusiastic about this,” Spoelstra mentioned. “We have at all times had nice respect for him. He is a extremely, extremely adorned champion. … He is aware of learn how to win. He is aware of learn how to assist others. He has a fantastic IQ for the sport. And defensively he has delight in being a reliable two-way basketball participant.”
Thompson mentioned he cannot wait to get the total staff collectively and get to work, calling the potential of the brand new Warmth roster “limitless.”
“It is type of a redemption season for me to indicate I can nonetheless make an impression on successful and do it persistently,” Thompson mentioned. “I can not wait to get to work. It is fairly surreal being right here. However what an honor it’s.”
