The Miami Heat just made Klay Thompson’s arrival official. But the four-time NBA champion’s $11.5 million deal leaves an obvious question hanging over Florida. At 36, Thompson is no longer arriving as a franchise cornerstone, yet Pat Riley made him a priority to build around Giannis Antetokounmpo and Bam Adebayo. So, what convinced the Heat president to battle with the Lakers because Thompson was the right addition for Miami’s championship push?

Hint: Riley looked beyond the obvious, like he has across his NBA tenure.

“Klay is one of the most iconic players to ever suit up in the NBA, a 4x battle-tested World Champion who will fit perfectly into his role as an all-around player at both ends of the court,” Riley said of Klay via reporter Anthony Chiang. “We all talk about his shooting skill, but there is so much more he brings to the game. We are blessed that Klay chose the Heat in our quest to challenge for championships.”

What Riley said has a much deeper meaning. Before we get into that, this is the second time Klay has turned away from the Los Angeles Lakers. Back in 2024, the sharpshooter reportedly didn’t prefer LA because he had “concerns about [Anthony] Davis’ availability.” Three years later, Luka Doncic, who was the sole factor that took Klay to Dallas, couldn’t get him to join the Purple and Gold.

Riley’s conviction in Klay has spoken beyond measure, strong enough to convince the former Maverick to look away from his father, Mychal’s former team, at which he won two titles during the Showtime era, and the recent roster overhaul Rob Pelinka sparked this offseason.

Now, Miami Herald’s Barry Jackson believes Riley’s reasoning comes from a philosophy he has followed in South Beach. He believes that teams with title aspirations need A) older veterans around their core and B) players with the savviness, mettle and experience to thrive during harrowing postseason moments.

Klay perfectly fits that description. Here’s how. His role as an attacking pillar while the Golden State Warriors won 4 championships, combined with his (still-lethal) long-range shooting (he is fourth all-time in threes converted), made him Miami’s first choice to strengthen its perimeter rotation. His résumé gave them something more specific than a scorer: a player who has delivered in pressure.

While Klay will go down in NBA history as an elite clutch scorer, his 2016 Western Conference Finals 41-point game against the OKC Thunder comes to mind. He hit an iconic 11 three-pointers and sparked a comeback win. The fanbase dubbed him ‘Game 6 Klay’ that night, and he has lived up to it ever since.

It’s something that Riley believes separates Klay from the rest, and he feels the sacrifices Miami made to get him will pay off. For a team navigating tight apron restrictions, the deal allowed Miami to add a proven veteran without making a massive long-term commitment. Here’s how Klay fits in with the Heat.

Miami’s offense now revolves around Giannis and Bam. The two players generate much of their impact in the paint. The Greek Freak remains at his most dangerous when attacking downhill, while Adebayo creates opportunities through screens, pick-and-rolls, and his work at the mid-range. That creates an obvious need for shooting.

Last season, Klay averaged 11.7 points and shot 38.3 percent on threes, not down much from his career 40.9 percent long-range shooting clip. The dip in his stats can also be attributed to a demoted bench role and a steep drop in game time from 27.3 minutes per game in 2024-25 to 21.7 during the previous campaign.

Interestingly, even at 36, Klay continues defending his own legacy. We’re not just talking about his public commitment to the fans about still wanting to compete at the highest level. Just last week, the sharpshooter took a shot at the Swish List podcast over a debate about whether Klay or Ray Allen is a better all-time player.

“You do realize I was the second leading scorer on two championship teams without [Kevin Durant]? You want me to go to a bad team and put up empty stats, that’s easy buddy,” Klay commented on Instagram.

“Holy s–t I led the 2016 playoffs in points scored you casuals,” Thompson wrote, hitting back at fans who were downplaying his Dubs championship legacy.

This happened only days after Klay said he wants to “compete” for a title and “play a role on a team that can make a deep playoff run.” It is a matter of fact that defenders simply cannot abandon him beyond the arc, especially when he moves through screens and relocates without the basketball. Therefore, he either shoots or creates space for others. And that may be exactly why Riley wanted him.

Klay Thompson joins a familiar tradition in Miami

Pat Riley has repeatedly surrounded his stars with experienced players when the Heat franchise believes it has a realistic championship window. Ray Allen arrived as a veteran shooter and eventually delivered one of the most important shots in Heat history during the 2013 Finals against the San Antonio Spurs.

Allen forced overtime in Game 6 with the Heat winning the game, followed by a victory in Game 7 as well. Essentially, Allen’s clutch contribution brought a second consecutive championship to Miami in the Big 3 era.

Before that, the 2006 championship team also leaned on experienced names such as Gary Payton and Alonzo Mourning. Meanwhile, Andre Iguodala later brought championship experience to Miami’s 2020 Finals run during the pandemic.

Going back decades, veteran Terry Porter, 35, was also brought in to do a specific job as a backup point guard. In 50 appearances, Porter averaged 10.5 points and shot 41.1% on threes during the Knicks-Heat rivalry (1998-99).

With Klay Thompson entering his 16th season, the shooting guard aligns with that lineage, although his situation carries its own challenges. His championship experience alone will not solve every weakness on Miami’s roster. They will need Giannis, Bam, and the rest of the squad to carry the larger burden.

Meanwhile, the Heat will reportedly hold off on signing a 15th player on a standard deal. That’s because Riley wants to wait and see if a capable playmaker appears in the buyout market. Otherwise, ex-Kansas wing Tre White, who was a training camp invitee, is likely first in line to take that spot. Free agent Keshad Johnson also stands a chance, according to the Miami Herald.

However, the reasoning behind Riley’s decision is quite clear for now.

The Heat’s starting 5: Davion Mitchell, Klay Thompson, Andrew Wiggins, Giannis Antetokounmpo, and Bam Adebayo.

The 36-year-old’s chapter will not be about re-becoming the player he was during the Dubs’ dynasty. It will be about whether his shooting, experience, and poise deliver when pressure peaks.