Giannis Antetokounmpo wasted no time making an impression in his first preseason action of the fall, and the way he did it had the Heat talking.
In Miami’s exhibition against Toronto in Quebec City on Saturday, the two-time MVP put together a sharp 14-minute first-half run: nine points, seven assists and four rebounds. The number that stood out most was the passing. All seven of Antetokounmpo’s assists led to three-pointers, and Erik Spoelstra drew a familiar comparison when describing what he saw.
“ He makes great plays,” Spoelstra said of Antetokounmpo. “ 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.
“ With the size and the vision and the ability just to put it on the numbers to your shooters is really impressive. [President] Pat [Riley] was at practice all week, and the way he played with the ball in his hands and delivering the ball reminds all of us of a great big point guard that played for Pat back in the ’80s.”
The attention Antetokounmpo drew opened things up for others, including Andrew Wiggins, who scored 12 points and hit 4-of-6 from deep in just 13 minutes. Pelle Larsson, who added 13 points in 11 minutes, said fitting alongside a high-usage star has come naturally.
“ He’s an incredible passer,” Larsson said of the Greek forward. “ He makes the right play every time, driving, kicking out to wide-open shooters. So he’s very easy to play with.”
Elsewhere in the Southeast, Jamal Cain is trying to turn a strong finish into something more permanent in Orlando. After the Magic exercised his 2026/27 option in June, the fifth-year forward said he spent most of the offseason in the gym as he looks to secure a steady rotation spot in his second season with the team. Cain’s $2.6MM salary is non-guaranteed, and he said the expectations around him felt different this summer.
“ This year is definitely different than the other four prior years,” said Cain, whose $2.6MM salary is non-guaranteed. “ Just because I feel like I didn’t have a real expectation on my play.
Of course, teams wanted me to come in better, but I feel like this is the first year where they were looking at me to actually come back and produce in some type of way. So, I just didn’t want to take that for granted.
I wanted to make sure I was prepared, wanted to make sure I was ready to be able to help my team, help the coaches, and just help in any way possible.”
The Magic also got some encouraging health news on Sunday. Anthony Black and Noah Penda were both able to practice, with Black dealing with an ankle issue and Penda with a hamstring problem. Head coach Sean Sweeney said both players came through the session well.
“ They look good,” Sweeney said. “ Hopefully they came out clean. Looks like they did.”
In Charlotte, Dennis Schröder said his move to the Hornets has been made easier by the people already in place. The veteran guard, traded to Charlotte in August as part of the five-team Peyton Watson blockbuster, pointed to his past ties with head coach Charles Lee and head of basketball operations Jeff Peterson as a big reason the transition has been smooth.
“ Me, Charles and Jeff go way back to the Atlanta days… Positive energy [here],” Schröder said. “ The coaching staff is really, really positive. Players have taken me in and made the transition really easy for me… Overall, I’m really happy to be here.”
In Other News...
Magic Getting Key Help Back As Sweeney Pushes Orlando's Identity
The Magic got a little healthier as practice resumed, with Anthony Black and Noah Penda both taking part while they work their way back from minor injuries. For a team still shaping its preseason rhythm, getting both players back on the floor matters, especially as Orlando tries to keep tightening the details before the games start to count.
Sean Sweeney has made it clear the emphasis is on execution and building the teams identity, and the latest workout was part of that process. NBA officials, including referee Ed Malloy, were also on hand to walk through the leagues points of emphasis for the coming season, another reminder that Orlando is trying to sharpen its habits now rather than chase corrections later. [Read more 🡒]
Paolo And Franz Are Already Benefiting From One Early Magic Change
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For a team built around young stars trying to sharpen its edge, that kind of coaching tends to matter in a hurry. The Magics staff has made communication a clear priority, and the payoff appears to be showing up in the chemistry and preparation around the group, where Banchero and Wagner already seem to be benefiting from the new tone. [Read more 🡒]
Desmond Bane Could Be Exactly What The Magic Still Need
Desmond Bane is heading into his second season with the Magic with a bigger job waiting for him, and it goes well beyond scoring or spacing the floor. Under new head coach Sean Sweeney, Bane is expected to help set the tone for a team trying to keep climbing, with his experience and work ethic viewed as central pieces of a group that still has playoff ambitions. For Orlando, the appeal is obvious: he has already shown he can fit in, and now the franchise wants to see how much more he can drive the standard.
Banes background and steady growth have long suggested he could be more than just another good roster fit, and this season may be the one where that becomes clearest. The Magic do not just need production from him, they need presence, and that is where his leadership could matter most as the team tries to take another step. Whether he becomes the voice this group leans on is still playing out, but the expectation around him says plenty about where Orlando believes it is headed. [Read more 🡒]