Klay Thompson Dismisses Horrible Start to Heat Career With Bold Claim

In December 2018, Klay Thompson answered a long shooting slump by insisting, "I'm one of the best shooters to ever play," then scored 32 points in Portland the next night. Eight years later, the Heat guard is facing similar doubts and giving a similar response. Thompson went scoreless on Friday, going 0-for-7 in a 136-115 preseason loss to the Magic, and he has now explained why he is not worried about it.

Thompson spoke after Sunday's practice at Kaseya Center. "Well, luckily, I have a blank slate," he said of washing the preseason aside. "The regular season starts Wednesday, and (preseason) doesn't count. So, for me, I wasn't too concerned with how I shot the ball. It was more about my wind, my condition, and playing good defense."

He added: "There's still things I can get much better at, and just being out there every night. I'm not worried about that. Played this game long enough to know you're gonna have great days, you're gonna have bad days. Just do the work and stay consistent, and I'll shoot my career averages." That last line is the bold claim, a promise that the shot will return to the level of a five-time All-Star.

Coach Erik Spoelstra backed him. "I feel really good about what he's providing for us," he said Sunday. "He's still getting his legs under him. He'll be just fine. Actually, I'm really encouraged by all the other things he's doing for us outside the three-point shooting."

The numbers explain why the topic has become a talking point. Thompson averaged just 4.3 points in four preseason games, shooting 26.9 percent from the field and 15 percent from three. He failed to score in two of those four appearances, and the "washed" labels started to fly. One fan wrote that he "can't even catch and shoot," although plenty of others said even great shooters have nights like this.

Thompson signed with the Heat in August to provide spacing around Giannis Antetokounmpo, so the early misses stand out more than they might elsewhere.

The slow start is not new for him. He shot 28 percent in the 2023 preseason, 24.1 percent in 2024 and 34.3 percent in 2025. In 2018, he had a great preseason and then started the regular season 9-for-29 in his first two games, including 1-for-10 from three.

That October, Warriors coach Steve Kerr offered the same explanation as Spoelstra. He called it a "fresh slate." That season, he shot just 13.9 percent from three over his first seven games. By late December he was at a career-worst 33.3 percent from three before the 32-point answer in Portland.

Thompson has been solid defensively, and the Heat are already expected to be elite there with Antetokounmpo, Bam Adebayo, Andrew Wiggins and Davion Mitchell. That helps explain Spoelstra's focus on "all the other things" he is doing.

The pressure is higher than it was in Golden State, though. The Heat will not simply play through his shooting struggles now that wins and losses count, with Tim Hardaway Jr. and Pelle Larsson as options off the bench. Larsson even ranked third on the team in scoring during preseason. Thompson will have to prove he deserves the minutes.

The Heat open the regular season Wednesday, and Thompson's goal is simple: stop thinking about the preseason and let the shot return. His coach is encouraged by what he does beyond scoring, and his track record suggests the cold spell will pass. Whether he really shoots his career averages will become clear soon enough.