The Miami Heat continue to be a squad that hopes its collection of young talent can overcome the lack of a true superstar. While not a perfect representation of real life, the highest-rated player the Heat have in 2K26, Bam Adebayo, is actually the 30th highest-rated player in the game.
One player emblematic of the hope Miami has that its youth movement is going to pay off is Pelle Larsson, and after a massive summer, he is in line for an even bigger role in 2025-26.
Erik Spolestra claims Pelle Larsson will do more this year
Head coach Erik Spolestra has been in Europe checking out the EuroBasket competition, and according to Ira Winderman of the South Florida Sun Sentinel, Spolestra has big dreams for Larsson in 2025-26.
"What he does is the things that we value. He's so tough. He makes winning plays. He's a great role player. He fits around guys, the best players. And he will continue to get better, because he has a great work ethic."Spoelstra on Larsson
According to Winderman, too, Spoelstra has been intrigued by whether or not Larsson can handle ball-handling duties.
Larrson has had a massive summer
Larsson didn't come to Miami with much fanfare. He was the 44th overall draft pick in 2024 and appeared in 55 games last year, averaging 14 minutes a night.
He was a solid enough ball handler with an assist-to-turnover ratio of three to one and could hit a three here or there, but there wasn't much in his game last season that indicated he was ready for a massive jump.
But then this summer, Larsson popped off during Summer League, averaging over 17 points, including 24 points and six assists in his finale against the Celtics.
Perhaps just as important, Larsson wasn't afraid to attack the rim this summer and had at least eight free-throw attempts in four of the five summer games he appeared in.
For a Heat squad that was near the bottom of the NBA in free throws attempted last year, that's the type of play Miami could use in 2025-26.
Combined with a 6'7.5" wingspan, he also offers some flexibility with where Miami can put him on the court.
We'll see how much of Spolestra's words are real versus how much of it is blowing smoke, but if one is to believe the head coach, Larsson should be in line for 20 minutes or more a night this season.