2025-26 Miami Heat Player Review: Pelle Larsson

Heat Wizards — (Mandatory Credit: Miami Heat // Twitter)

The Miami Heat have a big offseason ahead, but there’s still time to review what happened this season! To continue with our Miami Heat player review series, we delve into guard Pelle Larsson.

Past Player Reviews:

Brief Overview:

2025-26 stats (70 games):

11.4 PPG
3.5 RPG
3.4 APG
49.6 FG%
55.1 eFG%
60.5 TS%

Larsson’s numbers as a rookie didn’t do him enough justice. He had a quality rookie season, though his playing time was fairly sporadic. In 2025-26, he broke out. Larsson averaged career highs in essentially every statistical category, starting in 54 of the team’s 70 games as a result of Tyler Herro’s health. He was one of the Heat’s best point-of-attack defenders, secondary playmakers and play finishers throughout the season, blossoming into one of their most consistent rotation players.

Numbers to note:

2.8 – Fouls per 75 possessions

Larsson had an objectively bad whistle as a rookie, though that’s commonplace for neophytes in the NBA. Dating back to his days at Arizona, he’s always been physical. His fondness for contact was one of his endearing traits, but that resulted in a lot of fouls; he averaged 4.8 per 75 possessions as a rookie.

In 2025-26, he adjusted; Larsson was still very physical at the point-of-attack, but he trimmed down the fouls by two per 75, averaging just 2.8, the sixth-fewest on the team. He did a better job of moving his feet instinctually, putting himself in a better position to defend in space. His face did catch the brunt of it, but it was for a good cause.

70.3 – Field goal percentage at rim

Larsson saw a steady increase in both his effective field goal and true shooting percentages as a sophomore. And the biggest reason for that was his rim efficiency. The 6-foot-5 guard converted rim attempts at a 70.3 percent clip. That number ranks in the 75th percentile of all wings and it’s the second-best mark on the team (min. 100 FGA), per Cleaning The Glass.

82 – Games he needs to wear a mask next season

Larsson’s face may be made of steel, but he should probably wear a mask moving forward — for nothing more than his safety.

Best Game?

Larsson’s best game came on March 12 against the Milwaukee Bucks. Larsson poured on a season-high 28 points with six rebounds, six dimes and one steal on 9-of-14 shooting and 2-of-3 from 3-point range across 38 minutes.

What’s next?

You could make a case that Larsson is the Heat’s best contract right now. He’ll be on the books for $2.3 million next season (team option), though that’s almost certainly going to be exercised. He’ll also be extension eligible this summer.

Heading into his third season, Larsson must continue to improve his shooting. His still sat in the low 30s for 3-point percentage, but elevated his free-throw percentage to 79.2 percent on relative volume, suggesting that improvement beyond the arc could come sooner rather than later. It’s also important he continues to grow as a ballhandler and passer — two leaps he made in 2025-26.

I’ve said since he was drafted: He’s the ultimate glue guy. Larsson is a championship-caliber role player; the Heat, however, is nowhere near a championship-caliber team, though. If they can take the proper steps toward getting there without consolidating Larsson, I’d feel much better about their short- and long-term direction.

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vagibugi

1 minute ago

The real miracle is how he kept his pretty face relatively undamaged.

Great player, great pick. The team played better with him starting. Thats the main sign oh his quality.

He needs to be extended.

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