Klay Thompson chose Heat after Anthony Davis Dallas chaos
Klay Thompson says he joined the Miami Heat for another title shot after leaving Dallas, where Anthony Davis's injury-hit run followed the Luka Dončić trade and helped end the Mavericks' contention window. After a buyout, Thompson signed a two-year Heat deal, leaving money behind for a chance to win again.
Key Takeaways
- Thompson cleared waivers after a Mavericks buyout and quickly agreed to a two-year Heat contract, with the second year at his option.
- He said he left about $10 million on the table because winning at a high level mattered more than the money.
- In Dallas, Anthony Davis arrived in the Luka Dončić trade, played only 29 games amid injuries, and was later traded as the franchise pivoted.
- Thompson will join Giannis Antetokounmpo, Bam Adebayo, and former Warriors teammate Andrew Wiggins in Miami.
The four-time NBA champion and five-time All-Star was introduced in Miami after finalizing terms the same day he cleared waivers. He is No. 4 on the league's all-time made 3-pointers list and enters the season 74 threes behind former Heat guard Ray Allen for third place, per ESPN.
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Why did Klay Thompson choose the Heat?
Thompson said the Heat's demanding atmosphere attracted him. "I've tasted winning before and there's really nothing like it," he said. "The opportunity to win again at a very high level was so attractive to me."
He called the coming year a redemption season to prove he can still impact winning consistently. Family ties also helped: his father starred at Miami Jackson High, his brother shares an Oregon high school link with coach Erik Spoelstra, and relatives live nearby in the Bahamas.
How does Anthony Davis factor into Thompson's exit?
Thompson signed with Dallas hoping to chase a fifth ring beside Dončić. That plan collapsed after the Mavericks traded Dončić to the Lakers for Anthony Davis in February 2025. Davis suited up in only 29 games because of injuries before he, too, was traded about a year later.
When Thompson chose the Mavericks over the Lakers in 2024, a source said one reason was concern about Davis's availability. Davis was hurt in his first Dallas game—the first of four separate injuries there—and the Mavericks never made the playoffs in Thompson's two seasons.
Through the chaos, Thompson stayed professional, making 418 threes in Dallas—183 more than his next-closest teammate—and playing 141 of 164 possible games. "All I want is another chance to win," he said in April.
Who will Thompson play with in Miami?
Miami's summer overhaul brought Antetokounmpo and Bobby Portis from Milwaukee in a deal that sent Tyler Herro, Jaime Jaquez Jr., Kel'el Ware, and Kasparas Jakucionis to the Bucks. The Heat also signed sharpshooter Tim Hardaway Jr.
Spoelstra called Thompson "one of the best who's ever done it," praising his championship résumé, IQ, and two-way pride. "There's going to be a lot of eyeballs on our team this year," Spoelstra said. "This is what we wanted."
Thompson labeled the roster's potential "limitless" and said it feels surreal—and an honor—to be in Miami ready to work.