2024-25 Miami Heat Player Review: Kyle Anderson

Kyle Anderson Duncan Robinson — (Mandatory Credit: Issac Baldizon/NBAE via Getty Images)

The player review series is officially back! We are nearly one month removed from the conclusion of the 2024-25 Miami Heat season, which was one of the worst since the turn of the century. Over the next several (week)days, we will be reviewing how each Heat player performed throughout the 2024-25 season, recapping important numbers, best game(s) and their future outlook with the team. Today, we will reviewing veteran forward Kyle Anderson!

Let’s dive into it, shall we?!?

Bam Adebayo

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Brief Overview:

2024-25 stats (25 games):

6.7 PTS
3.8 REB
2.6 AST
49.3 FG%
33.3 3P%
55.7 TS%

Acquired at the deadline in the five-team Jimmy Butler blockbuster, Kyle Anderson was almost never apart of the Heat. The 11-year veteran, previously with Golden State, was re-routed to Toronto, though that deal fell apart so the Raptors could pursue Brandon Ingram.

With less than 24 hours until the deadline, Miami tried to get off his $8.8 million salary to duck the luxury tax (to avoid future repeater tax penalties). It was unsuccessful, as Anderson played 25 games under Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra, who lauded Anderson’s competitive spirit, basketball IQ and leadership on multiple occasions. He didn’t have a big role with Miami, but he was a respected veteran and showed glimpses of good play on both ends when he did get run during his abbreviated stint.

Numbers To Note:

9.4 – We’re in an age where basketball is fairly positionless, except for point guards (even though teams still have de-facto PGs … including the Heat). At different times, however, Anderson was thrust into the Heat’s “backup big” role. He logged 114 minutes on the floor without Kevin Love, Bam Adebayo and rookie Kel’el Ware, and they sported a plus-9.4 NET Rating in those minutes. That’s not a big sample, so take that with a grain of salt. But that’s an encouraging number–even though he was the very last resort. Thus, do with this as you wish!

7 – Anderson played his most productive basketball with the Heat this season. Seven of his highest 12 highest scoring outputs came with the Heat this season, including a season-high 19 points on 7-of-11 shooting in 24 minutes in a 124-103 win against the Boston Celtics on April 2. It’s a random stat that doesn’t mean much in the grand scheme of things, but you take all the positives that you can get, right?!?

Best game?

To me, Anderson’s best game was his second with the Heat. Miami was down to 10 players in a second-leg of a back-to-back against the Dallas Mavericks on Feb. 13, their final game before the All-Star break.

Anderson was sensational, tallying a 15-point, 10-rebound double-double on 6-of-10 shooting in 27 minutes, adding three dimes and two blocks. He dominated the offensive glass and made all the right plays at crucial points of the game, despite the five-point loss.

2024-25 Miami Heat Player Review: Bam Adebayo

What’s next?

Since Miami looked to move Anderson at the deadline, I presume they try the same this offseason. Anderson enters the summer with just two more years left on his contract for roughly $19 million, including $9.6 million non-guaranteed in 2026-27, his age-33 season. Miami has a glut of wings, and that’s a movable contract either by itself or in a bigger deal.

They may try to consolidate elsewhere and keep Anderson, 31, around until the deadline or try to see what they can get from him this offseason. Every dollar counts in today’s two-apron economy. Anderson is a valuable locker room presence and is an incredibly smart player, but I’m curious how the Heat decide to navigate his contract.