New Miami Heat guard Klay Thompson is eager to prove that he's still got some gas left in the tank.
"For myself and this upcoming season, it's kind of a redemption season for me to show I can still make an impact on winning and do it consistently," Thompson told reporters Tuesday at his introductory press conference, including Anthony Chiang of the Miami Herald. "I just can't really wait to get to work."
The Dallas Mavericks agreed to a contract buyout with Thompson last Friday, ending the veteran sharpshooter's two-year tenure with the club. He subsequently signed a reported two-year, $13-million deal with Miami after clearing waivers.
Thompson shifted to a reserve role last season after starting 72 games during his first campaign in Dallas. The 36-year-old registered career lows in scoring (11.7 points per contest), field-goal percentage (39.3%), 3-point percentage (38.3%), and free-throw percentage (76.6%) across 69 appearances in 2025-26.
However, Thompson remains one of the greatest 3-point shooters in NBA history, trailing only Stephen Curry, James Harden, and Ray Allen on the all-time leaderboard for threes.
The 6-foot-5 guard is confident his floor spacing will complement Giannis Antetokounmpo, Bam Adebayo, and the rest of the Heat's roster.
"Giannis is one of the best players of all time and a two-time MVP, obviously," Thompson said. "He is a special talent, and I have great respect for him and what he's been able to accomplish and how he's gotten better every season.
"I think we can both just help each other, not just him, but we can help the whole team. Just freeing him up for lanes to drive for space to operate. And for myself, I'm going to get so many great looks playing off him and Bam."
