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Miami Heat coach Erik Spoelstra doesn’t usually make public declarations about players who have yet to log a meaningful minute in the NBA. But Spoelstra broke that rule when speaking about guard Pelle Larsson before the first regular-season game of his rookie NBA season. “He’s an elite role player,” Spoelstra said of Larsson in October 2024. “If you mention that to some organizations, they probably think that that’s horrible. I think it fits absolutely with our style of play, our culture, how we view players and how they impact winning. He knows how to defend multiple positions, he brings you physicality on that side of the floor. Offensively, he moves very well without the ball, so he could be a connector with whatever unit he plays.”
As the Heat continues to deal with injury issues, Larsson has started in seven straight games and has started in 26 of his 39 appearances this season. The Heat is 16-10 this season in Larsson’s starts. “We trust Pelle,” Heat captain and three-time All-Star center Bam Adebayo said. “Pelle is the guy that we can incorporate him in our starting lineup, and you instantly see the difference. “For organizations and players around the league, you want a guy like Pelle. If he gets 15 [points], that just adds to your offense. But you know what he’s bringing day in, day out.”
Draymond Green: Pelle Larsson been in the mix a bit this week. Got into it with Booker, then got into it with Demar. My take on that is I’ve played a bunch of Europeans, they do little dirty stuff. People get mad at me and say ‘Draymond dirty I told yall draymond dirty.’ Draymond will f*ck you up. I don’t do dirty things I played for Tom Izzo if you did dirty things it didn’t work. I don’t do dirty things. There’s not a player in the NBA that can tell you Draymond is a dirty player. There’s a lot of Europeans that do dirty stuff on the basketball court. For D Book and Demar to get mad like that he’s (Pelle) is doing something we ain’t see. To his credit, he got a tech on D Book and Demar thrown out. If you going to keep doing that you gotta stay on that because people will start coming at you and that comes with a reputation. I don’t know Pelle Larsson to be that guy but if that’s who he’s going to be, commit and stay there because guys will start going at you like that.
Ira Winderman: Full clarity now on Heat injury report for tonight at Minnesota (NBC): Out: Jaime Jaquez (ankle), Terry Rozier (NWT). Available: Bam Adebayo (back), Tyler Herro (toe), Keshad Johnson (back), Nikola Jovic (groin), Pelle Larsson (ankle), Norman Powell (hamstring), Dru Smith (elbow)
Ira Winderman: Heat injury updates at the moment: Tyler Herro (toe): Available (but not expected to play). Jaime Jaquez Jr. (ankle): out. Pelle Larsson (ankle): Available. Nikola Jovic (groin): still questionable. Bam Adebayo (back): Available.
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Anthony Chiang: Pelle Larsson (sprained ankle) downgraded from questionable to out today vs. Timberwolves. It's the second straight game he has missed with this sprained ankle.
Anthony Chiang: Tyler Herro again out tomorrow vs. Timberwolves with his toe injury. But Pelle Larsson (sprained ankle) has been upgraded to questionable.
Anthony Chiang: Simone Fontecchio (left ankle inflammation) has been upgraded from questionable to available for tonight vs. Pistons. Only Heat players out tonight are Tyler Herro, Pelle Larsson, Vlad Goldin and Jahmir Young.
Anthony Chiang: Pelle Larsson (ankle) and Tyler Herro (toe) did not practice and won’t travel to Detroit for tomorrow’s game vs. Pistons. Simone Fontecchio (ankle inflammation) also did not practice. But Fontecchio will travel today.
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Anthony Chiang: Right ankle sprain for Pelle Larsson. He will not return. Larsson recently missed five games with a left ankle sprain.
Anthony Chiang: Heat announces that Bam Adebayo (lower back soreness) is out for tonight vs. Hawks. Nikola Jovic and Pelle Larsson will make their returns.
Anthony Chiang: Keshad Johnson (illness) upgraded to probable for tonight. Nikola Jovic and Pelle Larsson also probable and expected to make their returns tonight.
