Miami fans may have just gotten their first glimpse of something special. The Heat opened the preseason with a statement 129-105 win over Toronto, and Giannis Antetokounmpo wasted no time showing why he was the face of the franchise’s new era. While the excitement around the Greek Freak grew by the minute, another newcomer became the target of some very different reactions. Klay Thompson had a quiet night, and fans were quick to let him know about it.

Thompson joined Miami via buyout from Dallas in August 2026 to add floor spacing for Giannis Antetokounmpo and Bam Adebayo. The 36-year-old started the Oct. 3 preseason game vs. Toronto but went 0-for-2 with 0 points in 13 minutes.

That’s why fans are concerned about Klay Thompson’s reduced speed and athleticism at this stage of his career relative to the Heat’s roster. But let’s not forget it’s the first preseason game where players are getting in the reps.

In fact, the former Warriors star was confident about his role on the team and wanted to contribute positively. He did not just state his intention to shoot better but also wanted to prove he’s still a good defender.

“I want to be a plus defender. I want to guard 2-5 effectively. Obviously marking the best player all night isn’t my forte anymore but I can do it in spurts.”

Giannis Antetokounmpo made his preseason debut and wasted little time settling in. He finished with nine points, four rebounds, and seven assists in 14 minutes. He also posted a +4. The minutes were limited, but the two-time MVP looked comfortable from the start. He found his spots without much trouble and brought the defensive intensity that has become expected of him, and his passing stood out most.

All seven of his assists came in the first half, and every one led to a made three-pointer. Those shots accounted for 21 points created by Giannis. Tim Hardaway Jr. paced the team with 14 points while shooting 100% from the field. Andrew Wiggins scored 12 points, one rebound, and one steal, going 4-for-6 from the field. Amid all the positives, Klay Thompson’s performance stuck out as a sore thumb. Social media wasted no time to roll in the punches.

Klay Thompson gets scrutinized by fans

Klay Thompson’s Miami debut gave NBA fans an unexpected throwback. His Heat photoshoot already had social media drawing comparisons to Shaquille O’Neal’s brief stint in Boston. The Celtics’ Shaq jokes quickly caught fire. Then the four-time NBA champion took the floor for his preseason debut. Suddenly, fans found another reason to troll with.

“Klay only starting because of reputation lmfaoooo,” a netizen wrote on X.

Another fan commented, “Klay Thompson is totally washed.”

In comparison to Klay Thompson, Hardaway was perfect from the field, as he converted all of his four shots from the field, which included 3-3 from beyond the arc. That too, all in 11 minutes.

“Tim Hardaway Jr will be starting over Klay Thompson is no time,” wrote one fan.

Larsson came off the bench for 11 minutes and delivered 13 points on perfect 3-3 FG and 7-7 FT shooting. Larsson serves as the primary backup to starter Thompson on the Heat, which features a deep wing rotation heading into the 2026-27 season.

“Don’t ever have Pelle Larson come off the bench for Klay Thompson again,” wrote another fan.

Klay Thompson joined from the Mavericks, where he posted career lows of 11.7 points per game and 39.3% from three while playing limited minutes. Reports indicate the four-time NBA champion is the frontrunner to start at shooting guard to provide floor spacing for stars Giannis Antetokounmpo and Bam Adebayo as Miami aims to escape the play-in tournament. But that sentiment isn’t well received by all.

“(Starting Klay Thompson in 2026 shows you don’t care about your season),” they wrote.

“I don’t think he will help Miami this season😂😂,” another added.

Giannis looked comfortable running the offense and already had the crowd dreaming about what this team could become. Erik Spoelstra even compared the superstar to Magic Johnson. That alone had Heat fans buzzing. But not everyone walked away from the night feeling the same way.