MIAMI – With the Miami Heat looking to catch the basketball world's attention as Giannis Antetokounmpo is at the forefront, one has to wonder how the results will look to start the regular season. As Antetokounmpo looks to help the Heat reach new heights in the 2026-27 season, Miami head coach Erik Spoelstra speaks on what he's looking to see from his new star.

Antetokounmpo joins an exclusive list of top NBA stars that Spoelstra has coached in the past, like LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, Chris Bosh, and Jimmy Butler, and with championship aspirations back with the Heat, the expectations are high.

The regular season starts on Wednesday night against the Minnesota Timberwolves in Miami and continues in the week with hosting the Detroit Pistons on Friday and traveling to take on the Charlotte Hornets on Saturday. In those three games, people are looking for Antetokounmpo to make an impact immediately.

For Spoelstra, the goal now is that the Heat “just want to put it out there right now,” as the head coach tells ClutchPoints.

“We've had a very good training camp, preseason. We've seen what he can look like. We're facing a very good team tonight. They've played well also from preseason, and they're excited about their opportunity. So I think right now it's just about…let's get out there and compete,” Spoelstra said before Wednesday night's game against the Timberwolves.

Asked Erik Spoelstra about what he’s looking for in the first week from Giannis:

“We just want to put it out there right now. We've had a very good training camp, preseason. We've seen what he can look like…Right now it's just about let's get out there and compete.” #Heat pic.twitter.com/ZyXG7MU48m

— Zachary Weinberger (@ZachWeinberger) October 21, 2026

Ahead of Wednesday's opener, Antetokounmpo has appeared in three preseason games for Miami, averaging 15.7 points, 7.7 rebounds, and 6.7 assists per game while shooting 73.1% from the field in limited minutes.

Erik Spoelstra on how the Heat have come together off the court

While it could take time for the Heat to click 100 percent on the court with the new additions like Antetokounmpo and Klay Thompson, the rapport off the court has not been a problem. With offseason workouts and pickup games, even with Spoelstra hosting the team for his annual barbecue, he would go into how the team has been coming together off the court.

“I think it's a group that really respects each other, respects what we're trying to do, and looks forward to connecting and getting together. You know that's always a good thing. It helps for sure if you have a team that's connected and enjoys each other's company, and eventually really enjoys and celebrates each other's success; those are the hallmarks of great teams. That doesn't guarantee anything, but it’s…I think it's more about everybody respecting what we feel is an opportunity,” Spoelstra said.

“The veteran players have brought that type of spirit, and I think everybody that we brought in, whether we brought them in or coming off of what we went through last year or two, everybody just wanted something, a fresh start, and something more,” Spoelstra continued. “And I think that's probably what you're seeing organically.”

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Antetokounmpo is looking to come back to an MVP level, as he's been awarded the honor twice in his career, and return to elite production after a frustrating last season with the Milwaukee Bucks. While the statistics looked good, averaging 27.6 points, 9.8 rebounds, and 5.4 assists per game, he only played in 36 games.

In the three seasons before last year, Antetokounmpo averaged at least 30 points, 11 rebounds per game, and around six assists per game. At any rate, Antetokounmpo looks to start hot with the Heat in the first week of the regular season, beginning Wednesday against the Timberwolves.