Miami Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra has offered hope to one of the team’s training camp prospects, but insists the timing must be right.
The Miami Heat played their first preseason game against the Orlando Magic, losing 118-126.
The result does not matter, with the games serving only to develop the fitness of the team’s stars, and give fringe players a chance to stake their claims.
Guard Ethan Thompson was among those to play heavy minutes, with 27 in total. Compare that to star man Bam Adebayo, who only played 13.
Thompson received praise from Heat coach Erik Spoelstra, who was asked about his unique journey to the brink of the NBA.
Photo by Carmen Mandato/Getty ImagesErik Spoelstra on Ethan Thompson
Ethan Thompson went undrafted in 2021, and joined the Chicago Bulls for Summer League. He later landed a deal with their G League team, the Windy City Bulls.
Thompson never made it to the NBA, and spent time with the Mexico City Capitanes in the G League, and then played in his native Puerto Rico.
Last year he signed with the Orlando Magic for training camp but was waived before the season.
Now he has another shot, this time with the Miami Heat, and Erik Spoelstra is convinced Thompson ‘is an NBA player’ despite his long wait to make an appearance.
Speaking postgame, he revealed Miami have had long term interest in the 26-year-old.
Spoelstra said: “We like Ethan, you know, we’ve, we’ve been a fan of his for a couple years. We tried to get him a couple a couple years ago, it just didn’t work out. So we’ve followed him since then.
“[We] thought he had the quality qualities that fit how we play and how we do things. He’s had a very good training camp.
“He was really committed in September and August, and he just has to keep on plugging away.
“He’s very close. To me, he is an NBA player. It’s just a matter of, you know, the right opportunity, the right timing.”
Miami Heat need guard help early
Ethan Thompson scored 5 points, grabbed 3 rebounds and provided 6 assists during the Miami Heat’s loss. The numbers weren’t eye-popping, but there was enough there to show he can offer something to the team.
Miami are currently without All-Star guard Tyler Herro, who is dealing with an injury.
Herro will miss the start of the season, targeting a return five or six games into the season.
Thompson is down the depth chart and a possible return to the G League beckons, but he has a few more preseason games to try and make a real claim for an opportunity.