Jamal Cain excited to ‘strive and grow’ with the Heat after preseason promotion
Jamal Cain’s journey with the Miami Heat has been like a dream.
One of his favorite “pinch me” moments came in a preseason game against the Brooklyn Nets, where he spent a good chunk of time guarding Nets forward Kevin Durant – Cain’s “favorite player of all time.”
Contrary to the “never meet your heroes” cliché, Cain – who snagged five steals and scored 15 points against the Nets – said Durant gave him props after the newbie told him he was his favorite player.
“He was actually really cool,” Cain said of Durant, with the Heat idle until its regular-season opener against the Chicago Bulls on Wednesday at FTX Arena. “He told me I was supposed to be here. …It was definitely a surreal feeling, just to be in that moment with him for sure.”
It provided a big confidence boost at a keen time. Cain wound up proving to the Heat that he belonged in the NBA as well, earning a promotion from an Exhibit 10 to a two-way contract on Oct. 9. The move keeps Cain within the Heat’s developmental system this season, where he’s excited to improve his game, and prevents other teams from snagging him.
“This is the type of program that I feel like I can really strive and grow in,” Cain said.
Cain, who spent his first four years at Marquette University before finishing his college career at Oakland University, likened the Golden Eagles culture to that of the Heat. Grind it out, play as hard as you can and develop players, Cain said. Miami has made a habit out of taking on undrafted talent and transforming it into a contender-caliber team. (For reference, only six players on the Heat’s 15-man roster were drafted.) Marquette, likewise, tends to recruit less flashy players and guide them toward improving their game.
Those similarities have made it easier for Cain to adjust from going undrafted this year, to earning an invite to training camp in the Bahamas during Summer League, and finally now having garnered a promotion to two-way player off his preseason contributions.
“It’s kind of been my whole basketball journey, honestly,” Cain said of his path so far with the Heat. “Starting off small, and then trying to grow and build something. So it’s been great.”
Cain has potential to join the likes of 13-time All-Star Dwyane Wade and current Miami superstar Jimmy Butler as Marquette alumni who’ve found success with the Heat.
The young power forward, who hails from Pontiac, Michigan, said having part of his collegiate “family” in Miami has been a plus. He’s reveled in the opportunity to watch Butler during games and practices.
“Just knowing the Marquette culture and what he brought to the Marquette culture,” Cain said of Butler, “I can see it now [in Miami] when I’m here and I actually get a chance to watch him. And I have some of those similarities. Because I can see the competitive spark that he has, and that’s something that I also bring to the game as well.”
The two Heat players Cain has gravitated toward the most are Bam Adebayo and Udonis Haslem. The trio put up shots together after practice Saturday, laughing heartily and talking among themselves as they worked in a few extra minutes of practice.
“They’ve been a huge help with me and my mental, and with everything that’s coming right now,” Cain said. “…They’re always by my side. They’re just telling me where I can get better at, what I did wrong, what I can do better or anything like that. Those are definitely guys that I go to for guidance for sure.”
This season Cain said he’s looking to up his strength by putting on more weight (he’s currently listed as 6-foot-7-inches, 191 pounds). This way he can be of more help at power forward.
Flashes of Cain’s potential first commanded attention in his performance at Brooklyn this preseason. He scored 15 points on 6-of-10 shooting from the field, 11 rebounds and five steals in 27 minutes against the Nets, including 15 minutes straight in the first half (during which he shot 5-of-5 from the field for 12 points and snagged five rebounds).
Afterward he received big praise from Adebayo.
“This is Jamal Cain, man,” Adebayo said as he walked off toward the locker room with Cain, Adebayo’s left hand draped around Cain’s shoulder while the right pointed emphatically toward the young man. “Realize who this is. This is Jamal Cain, man. He’s gonna be in the league for a long time. Yeah, this is my dawg.”
Cain could spend a good amount of time with the Heat’s G League Affiliate, the Sioux Falls Skyforce, this season. After a year that’s included moves from Milwaukee to Michigan and finally down to Miami, Cain said he’s taking it “day by day” when faced with the thought of a potential back and forth from South Dakota throughout the season – the same way he’s approached his whole experience with the Heat.
“I’m trying to stay in the moment and just maximize my opportunity that I have today,” he said. “So going back and forth, I know that’d be a part of my journey. Mentally, I’m just going to adjust to stay ready.”