MIAMI – With the Miami Heat ready to deploy a new dynamic duo of Giannis Antetokounmpo and Bam Adebayo, the pieces around them in the starting lineup are almost as key. As the Heat are showcasing a new look with Antetokounmpo and Klay Thompson, one of the players looking to complement them is Andrew Wiggins.
Ever since Wiggins came to Miami from the Golden State Warriors in the Jimmy Butler multi-team trade from February of 2024, he has been a perfect complementary piece alongside Adebayo, and with Tyler Herro and Norman Powell when both were on the team. Now, Wiggins will play alongside Antetokounmpo and Thompson; the latter he is already familiar with, as they spent time on the Warriors, winning a championship in 2022.
Heat's Erik Spoelstra reveals Andrew Wiggins' ‘superpower'
In his first full season with Miami last season, Wiggins averaged 15.4 points, 4.8 rebounds, 2.7 assists, 1.1 steals, and one block per game while shooting 47.5 percent from the field and 41.4 percent from three-point range. Along with providing the team with major two-way ability, Spoelstra speaks on Wiggins' many “superpowers” to fit in with any lineup.
“I think that it’s a great skill set that he has, and it's really underrated in this league,” Spoelstra said. “Can you fit in to a lot of different rosters, different teams, and in this case, different organizations, and still find a way to be impactful? And I think that's one of his superpowers because he can be like a guy that can go get you a shot, but he can also play off the ball and still be a threat.”
“He's a great shooter, he’s great off the dribble, he’s really good in our system,” Spoelstra continued. “And then defensively, he's one of the more underrated wing defenders in this league for whatever reason. I'm not really sure why. He did that at a great level in Golden State, and he's been doing that for a year and a half for us.”
Erik Spoelstra talks about Andrew Wiggins’ “superpowers.”
“Defensively, he's one of the more underrated wing defenders in this league for whatever reason. I'm not really sure why…” #Heat pic.twitter.com/5TR9B3OoSk
— Zachary Weinberger (@ZachWeinberger) October 10, 2026
So far in two preseason games and wins, Wiggins has scored 12 and 13 points against the Toronto Raptors and the New Orleans Pelicans, respectively.
Heat's Andrew Wiggins looking to complement Giannis Antetokounmpo
While Wiggins is projected to start alongside Antetokounmpo, Adebayo, Thompson, and Davion Mitchell, the sky appears to be the limit for the lineup, though chemistry is still being built throughout the preseason. Speaking to ClutchPoints during training camp last week, the prospect of playing with a two-time MVP like Antetokounmpo is an exciting one.
Article Continues Below“Giannis is a generational talent, one of the GOATs, and for him to be on this team with us is big time,” Wiggins said. “I know everyone's excited, everyone's looking forward to it, the energy in the building is different, the team is different, the city is different, so we're all excited about that.”
“He's someone that as soon as he steps on that court, you know, that gravitational pull towards him is insane,” Wiggins continued. “Because he's someone you've got to really game plan for. Giannis is one of those ones.”
Not to mention the reunion with Thompson, as the two former Golden State stars look to add another cherished memory with each other in winning another championship. There's no denying that the excitement is palpable in Miami with the acquisitions to the roster, but a player like Wiggins will be crucial down the stretch in fitting seamlessly with any rotation.
At any rate, the chemistry with the newcomers will keep being built in the preseason, practice, and even in the regular season as the opener is on Oct. 21 against the Minnesota Timberwolves.