Miami Heat welcomes $11.5 million star with a heartwarming message after officially joining Giannis

Klay Thompson. Image via: Thearon W. Henderson/ Getty Images

The move became official Sunday night, with Miami Heat confirming Klay Thompson had signed a two-year contract worth $11.5 million, according to a league source cited by The Athletic. The second year is a player option, and the deal carries a 15 percent trade kicker. At 36, Thompson steps into a locker room built around Antetokounmpo and Bam Adebayo, with Pat Riley and Erik Spoelstra betting his shooting can still bend a defense. Thompson shot 40.9 percent from three across his career, and Miami needs exactly that kind of spacing around two non-shooters in Antetokounmpo and Adebayo. Pair that with Bobby Portis, who arrived from Milwaukee in the Giannis trade, and sharpshooter Tim Hardaway Jr., who hit 40.7 percent from deep in Denver last season, and the Heat suddenly have real shooting depth around their new star. Welcome to the 305, @klaythompson,” with a fire emoji attached. He joined the Mavericks expecting to chase titles next to Luka Dončić, only to watch the front office trade Dončić away in February 2025, draft Cooper Flagg, and go a combined 65-99 over two seasons. His numbers dipped too, a career-low 11.7 points and career-low shooting splits last year. Miami opens the season October 21 against Minnesota, then hosts Thompson’s old team five nights later.

He went on to credit the four-time champion as a complete player at both ends, not just a shooter, and said the front office feels fortunate he picked Miami as it chases another title run. Thompson spent a decade in Golden State forming half of the “Splash Brothers” with Stephen Curry, arguably the best shooting backcourt basketball has seen. Join conversation Share your thoughts in the comments Be respectful · TOI community guidelines A fan, tristanj22 wrote, “So happy for my brother 👌🏽👌🏽👌🏽.” lookbacklugo kept it short: “Let’s goooooo 🔥🔥🔥.” koreypowell29 added “LETSSS GOO HEATTT 🔥🔥🔥,” while joshuaartist___ posted “Welcome To MIAMI Klay Thompson 🔥, Let’s Go Heat 🔥.” leegorak promised support for every catch-and-shoot three, and lexisobel chimed in all the way from Australia with “let’s go heat 🔥🔥.

Riley didn’t hold back in his statement, calling Thompson “one of the most iconic players to ever suit up in the NBA. That fit matters. The Heat’s social team didn’t overthink the welcome. The franchise posted a warm message for Thompson on Instagram, “We just made a splash, bro! Now he brings that same instinct to a Heat team trying to build something new in a crowded Eastern Conference. Miami is betting that was circumstance, not decline. The comments under Miami’s welcome post filled up fast, and the tone was pure celebration. Fans leaned into puns, all-caps enthusiasm, and a fair amount of confidence that this roster is different. One fan, woodydigitalz, put it simply: “Welcome home my love, I’ve been waiting for you. ” Between the puns and the flag emojis, the message from Heat fans was consistent. They believe this roster, built around Antetokounmpo with proven shooters filling the gaps, gives them a real shot. Get the latest Sports News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.

Thompson cleared waivers Sunday and signed with the Heat, closing the book on a rocky stretch in the Dallas Mavericks and opening a new one alongside Giannis Antetokounmpo. Klay Thompson has a new address, and it’s the one nobody quite expected two years ago. The Splash Brother is heading south, and Miami didn’t waste a second telling him how they feel about it. The deal is done, the numbers are in, and the reaction online has already started rolling.