MIAMI — Klay Thompson says he already feels right at home in Miami, and there are reasons why that makes perfect sense.
Mychal Thompson, his father, starred for a team that won a high school state title at Miami Jackson High in 1974. Mychel Thompson, his brother, went to the same high school in Oregon that Heat coach Erik Spoelstra attended. He’s never had a chance to live this close to the many relatives he has in the nearby Bahamas. And if all that wasn’t enough, the news conference where Thompson was getting introduced Tuesday (Wednesday in Manila) as the newest Heat player started a bit late because of Miami’s notorious traffic.
“I know it’s a demanding atmosphere,” Thompson said. “That’s what attracted me to being here.”
Thompson — who is No. 4 on the NBA’s all-time 3-pointers made list — cleared waivers Sunday following his buyout from the Dallas Mavericks and wasted little time finalizing a two-year deal worth about $11.5 million 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 deal with the Heat is at Thompson’s option.
He left about $10 million on the table to get a chance to play for Miami and says the opportunity to win is what mattered.
“I’ve tasted winning before and there’s really nothing like it,” said Thompson, who was part of four NBA title teams with Golden State in the years when he and Warriors guard Stephen Curry were the “Splash Brothers” duo that changed the game with their prolific 3-point shooting. “The opportunity to win again at a very high level was so attractive to me.”
“There’s going to be a lot of eyeballs on our team this year,” Spoelstra said. “This is what we wanted.”
Spoelstra said Thompson is “one of the best who’s ever done it” and raved about what he’s bringing to Miami.
Thompson said he can’t wait to get the full team together and get to work, calling the potential of the new Heat roster “limitless.”
