The Heat got their first game with Giannis Antetokounmpo on Saturday, and coach Erik Spoelstra came away talking about a player he used to watch from the other bench.
Antetokounmpo had nine points, seven assists and four rebounds in 14 first-half minutes against the Raptors in Quebec City. All seven assists led to 3-pointers, as Anthony Chiang of the Miami Herald noted.
“He makes great plays,” Spoelstra said. “We knew that about him. We faced him in the playoffs three times. But when you really see it every day in practice this week, you appreciate how brilliant of a playmaker he can be.”
Then came the comparison. Spoelstra said Antetokounmpo’s size, vision and ability to deliver the ball to shooters reminded people at Heat practice, including Pat Riley, of “a great big point guard that played for Pat back in the ’80s.”
That would be Magic Johnson. So no pressure, Giannis. Spoelstra was talking about the passing, and Saturday offered a pretty good demonstration.
Andrew Wiggins hit four 3-pointers in 13 minutes. Pelle Larsson scored 13 points in 11 minutes and said playing alongside Antetokounmpo has been an easy adjustment.
“He’s an incredible passer,” Larsson said, via Eric Nehm of The Athletic. “He makes the right play every time, driving, kicking out to wide-open shooters. So he’s very easy to play with.”
It was one preseason game. Still, after injuries limited Antetokounmpo to 36 appearances last season, Miami got to see him healthy, drawing defenders and finding open teammates.
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