Pelle Larsson is spending the offseason making a loud case for more responsibility, and his latest outing gave the Miami Heat another reason to smile.
The Heat guard went off for Sweden on Thursday, piling up a game-high 31 points in an 86-81 road win over Finland in FIBA World Cup qualifying. He also chipped in five rebounds, going 9-of-17 from the field and 11-of-14 at the line.
This wasn’t a one-off burst, either. Larsson also scored 31 against Slovenia in July, and through three qualifying games he has already totaled 81 points. Back-to-back 31-point performances have made him the clear engine of Sweden’s four-game winning streak in qualifying.
What stands out most is how he’s scoring. Larsson isn’t just filling it up from the perimeter or living off one hot stretch.
He’s attacking the basket, creating contact, and putting pressure on defenses. Against Finland, he made seven of his 10 two-point tries and drew 14 free throws, a sign that his ball-handling and downhill game are taking another step.
That’s a promising development for Miami, especially after Larsson’s strong second NBA season. His rookie year was modest, with 4.6 points in 14.2 minutes per game.
Last season looked very different: 11.4 points, 3.5 rebounds and 3.4 assists while shooting 49.6 percent from the field. He appeared in 70 games and started 54.
For Sweden, Larsson is carrying a much heavier offensive load than he will in Miami. There, he’s the focal point.
With the Heat, he’ll be a bench piece. But that role fits him, and it’s part of what makes him useful.
He can defend, rebound and get downhill, giving Erik Spoelstra real flexibility when he manages the rotation.
The one clear box left to check is the outside shot. Larsson shot 32.3 percent from three last season and is just 4-of-24 from deep in these qualifying games. If that number climbs, his fit next to Miami’s stars gets a whole lot easier.
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