MIAMI — The Miami Heat exercised the team option on guard Pelle Larsson, the franchise announced Tuesday, locking in a player who emerged as a reliable starter and one of the team’s most productive two-way contributors last season. Per club policy, financial terms were not disclosed.
Larsson appeared in 70 games with 54 starts and averaged 11.4 points, 3.5 rebounds, 3.4 assists and 26.4 minutes per game. He shot 49.6 percent from the field and 79.7 percent from the foul line, finishing third on the team in both assists and free throws made.
The guard scored in double figures 41 times, including eight 20-point games, and connected on multiple three-point field goals 18 times. He posted a career-high 28 points on March 12, shooting a perfect 8-of-8 from the foul line, and recorded a 20-point, 10-rebound double-double on March 21.
Larsson’s versatility showed up beyond the scoring column. He dished out a career-high nine assists without a single turnover on January 20 and recorded multiple steals 12 times, including a career-high five steals on January 31. He also took 12 charges, tying for the most on the team — a mark of the defensive effort that helped earn him a consistent starting role.
The decision to pick up Larsson’s option signals the Heat’s confidence in the guard as a core rotation piece heading into next season. Miami’s roster construction will continue to take shape as the offseason progresses toward the start of free agency.