The start of the Miami Heat’s training camp is still more than one month away, as the organization is set to kick off its camp on Sept. 30. However, the Heat are already offering training camp invitations to players, and one talented outside shooter and former G League star has accepted an invitation to camp.
Ethan Thompson has agreed to participate in the Heat’s training camp. Thompson spent four seasons of college basketball at Oregon State University from the 2017-18 season through the 2020-21 campaign, and he averaged 13.5 points, 4.3 rebounds, 3.9 assists and 1.0 steal per game across his lengthy stint as a member of the Beavers.
“Sharp-shooter Ethan Thompson, a standout for the Orlando Magic’s G League team last season, accepted a training camp invitation from the Heat on Wednesday,” Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald wrote.
“Thompson also gives the Heat a player of Puerto Rican descent on its roster, a day after the team announced it would play a preseason game against the Magic Oct. 4 in Puerto Rico.”
Thompson is on the heels of a highly impressive stint playing for the G League’s Osceola Magic in the 2024-25 campaign. He averaged 18.4 points per game in the regular season and showcased tremendous growth as a 3-point shooter compared to his collegiate days. After Thompson knocked down just 33.8 percent of his 3s at the college level, he shot 39.1 percent from deep on 8.3 attempts per contest with Osceola across 31 contests.
It makes sense for Miami to take a flier on Thompson in light of the team’s decision to move forward Duncan Robinson to the Detroit Pistons in a sign-and-trade deal earlier in the offseason. Robinson was one of Miami’s top 3-point shooters for a long time, and perhaps Thompson could help soften the blow of his departure if he’s able to find his footing at the highest level.
Hopefully, Thompson will get ample opportunities to prove his worth during the Heat’s six-game preseason slate in the month of October. Miami will begin its preseason stint with a bout versus the Orlando Magic on Oct. 4.
It would make for quite the feel-good story if Thompson is able to crack the final roster and be an effective player for Miami in the 2025-26 campaign, as he has yet to appear in an NBA regular-season game in his professional basketball career. Maybe Thompson’s decision to agree to a training camp invitation with Miami will age like fine wine and he will be a member of the organization for years to come.