Miami added Bez Mbeng on a waiver claim this week, handing a 23-year-old guard with one season of NBA experience a shot in a backcourt already stacked with Davion Mitchell, Pelle Larsson, Dru Smith and Klay Thompson. His numbers from that season show a player who forces turnovers and moves the ball, but who has not yet proven he can shoot or protect a lead.
New Face, Old Tape
Miami claimed Bez Mbeng this week, adding a 23-year-old guard who spent last season logging 32.8 minutes across just 15 games. He signed for $2.2 million for 2026-27 and is not on the injury report, so the only question left is whether that body of work is enough to hold a rotation spot on a roster already crowded at guard.
The Chaos He Creates
Mbeng piled up 2.3 steals per game last season, a rate that points to real hands and anticipation at the point of attack. His assist rate of 15.8 percent and 4.1 assists per game back up the same read: he moves the ball and disrupts it, even with a rebound rate of just 5.4 percent that says his game lives on the perimeter, not the glass.
The Leak On Defense
Those steals came with a cost. His defensive rating sat at 120.4 and his net rating was -13.2, evidence that gambling for takeaways left his lineups exposed on the other end. Spoelstra's system rewards discipline over highlight plays, and that gap is what camp will test.
A Jumper Nobody Fears
Mbeng shot 19.4% from three on just 2.1 attempts a game, and his true shooting sits at 55.0%, a number that says defenses can ignore him beyond the arc. He finished at 50.0% from the field and 64.0% from the line, a profile built on volume, not touch.
Bottom Line
Miami already has Mitchell, Larsson, Smith, Thompson, Donaldson and Conwell at guard, so a $2.2 million camp addition has to beat real competition for minutes. Mbeng's job this fall is simple: turn steals and passes into a real role, because the jump shot alone will not do it.
Is Bez Mbeng guaranteed a roster spot with the Heat?
No. Miami added him on a waiver claim on a $2.2 million contract for 2026-27, and he is competing with Mitchell, Larsson, Smith, Thompson, Donaldson and Conwell for guard minutes in a crowded camp.
What stood out in Bez Mbeng's last season?
He averaged 2.3 steals and 4.1 assists per game, a disruptive profile, but his defensive rating of 120.4 and net rating of -13.2 show his lineups still gave up more than they gained.
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