The Miami Heat are betting big on Nassir Little, hoping he can be their next breakout success, similar to what Caleb Martin became under their player development system.
Heat Banking on Little’s Potential
After landing the 24-year-old forward on a one-year deal, as reported by NBA insider Chris Haynes, the Heat are giving Little the chance to revive his career in South Beach. Known for turning overlooked players into key contributors, the Heat staff will be working hard to help Little reach his full potential.
Little’s NBA Path: From Portland to Phoenix
Little began his NBA journey as the 25th overall pick in the 2019 NBA Draft, selected by the Portland Trail Blazers. That draft class included stars like Zion Williamson, Ja Morant, and Darius Garland, but Little’s NBA journey has been more under the radar. After four underwhelming seasons with Portland, Little found himself on the loaded Phoenix Suns roster in 2023-24, playing alongside Kevin Durant, Devin Booker, and Bradley Beal.
However, his time in Phoenix was limited. Playing just 10 minutes per game, Little posted career-low numbers, averaging 3.4 points and 1.7 rebounds per game.
A New Project for the Heat: The Next Caleb Martin?
Miami is known for developing unheralded players into essential contributors, and they hope to work similar magic with Little. The Heat aim for him to fill the void left by Caleb Martin, who thrived as a versatile wing during his three years with Miami before earning a lucrative deal with the Philadelphia 76ers.
Little and Martin share notable similarities: both are physical, athletic wings who can play either small forward or power forward in small-ball lineups. While Little is slightly taller at 6-foot-6 compared to Martin’s 6-foot-5, their skill sets are alike. Little is a solid three-point shooter (33 percent for his career) and has flashed potential as a strong perimeter defender and rebounder, with his best season coming in 2021-22 when he averaged 5.6 rebounds per game.
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Unlocking Defensive Potential
What makes Little an intriguing fit for the Heat is his defensive upside. While his career defensive rating stands at 117.6, Miami believes they can mold him into an impact player on that end of the floor.
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