Giannis Thrusts Heat Into National Spotlight & NBA Cup Draw

Miami Heat surge into the NBA spotlight with a primetime national TV schedule and a daunting NBA Cup "group of death." Can Giannis elevate his brand—and the Heat’s championship odds—on South Beach's biggest stage? Wes Goldberg and David Ramil unpack Miami’s rise in national prominence, driven by marquee matchups and high-profile moves. From Bam Adebayo and Tyler Herro’s roles to Giannis's international star power, they debate which NBA teams matter most in 2026. The heated discussion covers the challenges of the Heat's stacked NBA Cup group—featuring the Pacers, Knicks, Cavaliers, and 76ers—and what Giannis’s decision to skip Greece’s FIBA qualifiers means for his readiness. Hear insider analysis on Miami’s market appeal, international appeal, and where Erik Spoelstra’s squad stands amid fierce Eastern Conference competition. Will the Heat capitalize on their national spotlight and navigate the league’s toughest group? Locked On Heat breaks down the storylines driving Miami's must-watch season. 00:00 – NBA Prioritizes Miami Heat 10:53 – NBA Cup "Group of Death" Breakdown 17:16 – Giannis Sits Out FIBA, Heat Implications Everydayer Club If you never miss an episode, it’s time to make it official. Join the Locked On Everydayer Club and get ad-free audio, access to our members-only Discord, and more — all built for our most loyal fans. Click here to learn more and join your team’s community: https://lockedonpodcasts.com/everydayerclub   Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Odoo Great organizations win because operations matter. And that’s why you should get Odoo. Try for free today at https://Odoo.com/lockedon.   FanDuel Today's episode is brought to you by FanDuel. Join all the action at https://FANDUEL.COMto play Daily Dingers and make your free pick on who’s hitting a homer this MLB season.   FANDUEL DISCLAIMER: 21+ in select states. First online real money wager only. Bonus issued as nonwithdrawable free bets that expires in 14 days. Restrictions apply. See terms at sportsbook.fanduel.com. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit FanDuel.com/RG (CO, IA, MD, MI, NJ, PA, IL, VA, WV), 1-800-NEXT-STEP or text NEXTSTEP to 53342 (AZ), 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org/chat (CT), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-522-4700 (WY, KS) or visit ksgamblinghelp.com (KS), 1-877-770-STOP (LA), 1-877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY), TN REDLINE 1-800-889-9789 (TN) Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.