Davion Mitchell gave Heat fans exactly the kind of early jolt that can carry a summer.
Miami still doesn’t officially open training camp until the end of September, but the team has already been putting in work. Over the past weekend, most of the roster was in California for a mini camp, with Tim Hardaway Jr. and Simone Fontecchio as the exceptions. Mitchell had a name for it, too: “pain camp.”
And tucked into that session was the kind of footage that travels fast for a reason. The video, first posted on Mitchell’s Instagram account before making its way onto X, shows 5-on-5 play, lifting, team bonding, and a motivational moment from Mitchell that lands like a season-long slogan.
“We already champions, so let’s start acting like it”
That line does the heavy lifting here, and for Heat fans, it’s hard not to get swept up in the energy around it. The 2026-27 season is still a few weeks away, but the buzz around Miami is already loud.
There’s a real argument that this is the most anticipation the franchise has felt heading into a season since the LeBron James years. Jimmy Butler’s arrival brought plenty of intrigue, but the addition of Giannis changes the temperature completely.
Jimmy made Miami relevant again. Giannis puts the Heat in a different category altogether, the kind that makes them look like a title contender from the jump.
That’s what makes this moment feel so different for Heat fans. The last time Miami entered a season with that kind of status before opening night, you have to go back to the LeBron era.
And now there’s another layer to it: the players are already showing up before camp even begins. With two weeks still left before the official start of training camp, the voluntary work has already started, and the message coming out of it is clear.
The hype is real, and Mitchell’s video only turns the volume up higher.
In Other News...
Heat Still Face One Roster Decision That Could Matter Early
The Heat have spent the early part of camp sorting out a backcourt picture that still looks unsettled around the margins. Davion Mitchell, Dru Smith and Tre Donaldson are part of the point guard mix, but Miami is also weighing whether it needs one more experienced hand, especially if the goal is to balance defense, ball handling and a little more reliability behind the starters.
One option under consideration is a reunion with former All-Star Victor Oladipo, whose on-ball skill set still carries obvious appeal even with the injury concerns that have followed him in recent years. Miami has reached the minimum roster count already, but leaving a spot open remains on the table if the front office wants flexibility for a trade or buyout target once the season gets rolling. [Read more 🡒]
Heat Roster Spot Suddenly Puts Myron Gardner Under Real Pressure
The Heats roster picture is getting tighter, and Myron Gardner is one of the players who could feel it first. Miamis reported interest in free agent guard-forward John Konchar adds another layer to a spot that already looked unsettled, especially with Gardner working on a partially guaranteed contract and trying to hold onto a place in a system he already knows.
Konchar brings NBA experience, but his injury history is part of the calculation, which leaves Miami weighing reliability against familiarity and upside. Gardner has the age edge and the comfort of being in-house, while Konchar would arrive with a different rsum and a more proven track record. A decision on the spot is expected soon, and Gardners situation now looks like one of the more interesting camp battles on the roster. [Read more 🡒]
Heat Bench Debate Is Heating Up Around One Key Award Race
The Heats offseason makeover has already created an interesting subplot on the bench, where Tim Hardaway Jr. and Pelle Larsson are both positioned to play meaningful roles as reserve options. Hardaway brings the kind of shooting that fits cleanly next to dominant scorers, while Larssons versatility gives Miami another useful piece in a rotation that should lean heavily on depth.
In a Sixth Man of the Year race, though, sharing the spotlight can be its own complication. Miami could wind up with two legitimate candidates from the same roster, which creates the possibility of vote splitting, even if both players are good enough to make a strong case on their own. For a team that just reshaped its outlook around Giannis Antetokounmpo, the bigger question may be whether the bench production is strong enough to matter, not just who gets the credit for it. [Read more 🡒]