Klay Thompson Targets NBA Title After Completing Miami Heat Move

Klay Thompson believes he has found the right place to chase another NBA championship after completing his move to the Miami Heat.

The five-time All-Star cleared waivers Sunday following a buyout from the Dallas Mavericks and quickly agreed to a two-year contract worth about $11.5 million with Miami. The second season is a player option.

Thompson reportedly gave up around $10 million for the opportunity to join a Heat roster featuring Giannis Antetokounmpo, Bam Adebayo and former Golden State teammate Andrew Wiggins.

“I’ve tasted winning before and there’s really nothing like it,” Thompson said. “The opportunity to win again at a very high level was so attractive to me.”

Miami also offers several personal connections for Thompson. His father, Mychal Thompson, played for Miami Jackson High when it won a state championship in 1974, while his brother Mychel attended the same Oregon high school as Heat coach Erik Spoelstra. Thompson will also be closer to relatives living in the Bahamas.

“I know it’s a demanding atmosphere,” Thompson said. “That’s what attracted me to being here.”

The four-time NBA champion arrives as one of the league’s most accomplished shooters. Thompson ranks fourth on the NBA’s all-time list for made three-pointers and needs another 74 to move past former Heat guard Ray Allen into third.

He also owns the NBA record for most three-pointers in a single game with 14 and has made at least 10 threes in a game on nine occasions.

Miami has significantly reshaped its roster this summer. The Heat acquired Antetokounmpo and Bobby Portis from Milwaukee in exchange for Tyler Herro, Jaime Jaquez Jr., Kel’el Ware and Kasparas Jakucionis. They also added three-point shooter Tim Hardaway Jr.

“There’s going to be a lot of eyeballs on our team this year,” Spoelstra said. “This is what we wanted.”

Spoelstra described Thompson as “one of the best who’s ever done it” and praised his championship experience.

“We’re very excited about this,” Spoelstra said. “We’ve always had great respect for him. He’s a highly, highly decorated champion. … He knows how to win. He knows how to help others. He has a great IQ for the game. And defensively he has pride in being a legitimate two-way basketball player.”

Thompson believes Miami’s revamped roster has “limitless” potential and views the coming campaign as an opportunity to prove himself again.

“It’s kind of a redemption season for me to show I can still make an impact on winning and do it consistently,” Thompson said. “I can’t wait to get to work. It’s pretty surreal being here. But what an honor it is.”