LeBron James believes Heat going to be ‘damn good.’ Also, Pelle Larsson still dealing with illness

While some are doubting the new-look Miami Heat’s ability to be an Eastern Conference contender this season, NBA icon and future Hall of Famer LeBron James isn’t one of those skeptics.

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James, who considered signing with the Heat in free agency this past summer before ultimately joining the Philadelphia 76ers, believes the Heat are going to be “damn good” after trading for two-time NBA MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo this offseason.

“My initial thoughts are it’s going to be damn good,” James said on the latest episode of his “Mind the Game” podcast when asked by co-host Steve Nash about Antetokounmpo’s fit alongside three-time All-Star center Bam Adebayo and the rest of the Heat’s roster. “Obviously we’ve seen what Bam has been able to do over the last few seasons, he’s actually started to shoot the three a lot more. We know with Giannis, he needs space, he wants space, he creates space. That’s when he’s really good, when he can attack or he can get to the gaps and he has guys around him that create space. So I think with Bam’s ability to now shoot the three, I think that helps out a lot.”

The Heat offered James a two-year contract worth $16 million, but he took half that amount to sign with the 76ers on a two-year, $7.9 million deal. James opted to team up with Jaylen Brown, Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey in Philadelphia over joining Adebayo and Antetokounmpo in Miami.

James, who is entering his 24th NBA season, spent four seasons with the Heat earlier in his career from 2010 to 2014. He won two of his four NBA titles in Miami in 2012 and 2013 as part of the Heat’s Big 3 with Chris Bosh and Dwyane Wade.

After leaving the Heat, James won one title with the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2016 and another championship with the Los Angeles Lakers in 2020. James also was selected as the NBA’s Most Valuable Player twice while with the Heat.

“I think defensively they’re going to be damn good,” James, 41, continued on the Heat. “You look at [Andrew] Wiggins, you look at Bam, you look at Giannis, you look at Davion Mitchell. Guys that’s what they kind of hang their hats on, they’re going to be damn good. And you have [coach Erik Spoelstra] there. Spo knows how to put the pieces in the right position in the right place. And then you add Klay [Thompson]. Adding Klay, I think it gives Bam some more like reassurance, like OK, ‘I have a little bit more space.’ Tim Hardaway Jr., some more space.”

Along with adding Antetokounmpo, Thompson and Hardaway, the Heat also acquired veteran forward Bobby Portis Jr. as part of the Antetokounmpo trade this offseason. James is fan of that move, too.

“Bobby Portis is one of my favorite players,” James said. “I love Bobby Portis, he’s one of my favorite players. He brings an edge and he’s a winner, he’s another champion as well. So he’s been there, he knows what the long run is. So that’s a very exciting team. We’ll just see how it all comes together, which I think it will.”

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Taking it slow

Heat guard Pelle Larsson missed practice time last week and the Heat’s second preseason game due to an illness. And Larsson is still dealing with the lingering effects of that illness.

Larsson tried to play in the Heat’s third exhibition game in Saturday’s loss to Minnesota Timberwolves, but he left the contest early because he was still feeling sick. Larsson totaled 14 points on 4-of-15 shooting from the field and 0-of-2 shooting from three-point range, three rebounds and four assists in 23 minutes before exiting the preseason game.

“Really, just been having headaches,” Larsson, 25, said Tuesday when asked about his ongoing illness. “So I caught something when we were in Quebec City [for the preseason opener], or on the way back, or something. So since then, I didn’t feel right and took some days off, came back, just came back a little too quick. I didn’t respect it, maybe, and tried to tough it out. And now, just taking it slower.”

Larsson added that Tuesday was “the first day I didn’t wake up with a headache” since coming down with the illness.

“It’s hard to say, because I was feeling fine,” Larsson said of where he is physically just one week away from the Heat’s regular-season opener on Oct. 21 against Timberwolves. “And then, once my heart rate got up, my head started hurting again. So, right now, I’m just taking it slow, step-by-step, and can’t really put a percentage on it.”

That means Larsson’s status is in question for the Heat’s fourth of five preseason games on Wednesday against the Brooklyn Nets at Kaseya Center (7:30 p.m., WPLG Local 10).

“I’ll be taking it slow right now and just increasing the load, slow,” Larsson said after doing limited work in Tuesday’s practice.

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