Spires rider scores four points at Speedway GP of Germany
Oxford Spires' Riss was nominated as the wild card rider for the meeting, the opening round of the 2025 Speedway Grand Prix series.
READ ALSO: Spires act by making change to team line-up
Riss started with a last place in Heat 4, before taking four third places, including defeating Robert Lambert in Heat 16.
Riss was the early leader of that race before Jack Holder and world champion Bartosz Zmarzlik thrust inside him in ruthless style.
Riss lost out on one point when Heat 19 was halted while he was in second place, after fourth-placed Jason Doyle fell. He finished third in the re-run.
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Miami Herald
20 hours ago
- Miami Herald
Dru Smith on ‘great trajectory,' hopes to be ready for Heat camp after new deal
There have already been a few unfortunate setbacks in guard Dru Smith's career, but he knows how fortunate he is to be in his current position. After sustaining a season-ending torn Achilles tendon in December, the Miami Heat still kept him around on a two-way contract for the remainder of last season despite there being no salary cap penalty for swapping him out for a healthy player. Smith then became a restricted free agent this summer and continued to rehab with the Heat this offseason, but he wasn't eligible to return to Miami on a two-way contract because of NBA rules. So the Heat instead brought back Smith on a standard contract Saturday just one day after shedding forward Haywood Highsmith's expiring $5.6 million salary in a trade with the Brooklyn Nets to create enough room under the luxury tax to re-sign Smith. Smith's new deal — the second standard NBA contract of his career — is worth $7.9 million over three years, with his first-year salary of $2.4 million fully guaranteed and the second and third years of the deal including conditional guarantees. 'It was obviously a little stressful and things like that,' Smith, 27, said Wednesday during a phone interview. 'I think any time, whenever you have nothing signed and nothing set in stone, I think it's just a little worrisome. But overall I think we love this organization and we're just excited to be able to be back and be a part of this.' Smith's new contract is further evidence of the Heat's belief in him, as he has been a part of the Heat's developmental program since he went undrafted out of Missouri in 2021. He has spent at least part of his first three NBA seasons with the Heat and is now on track to begin his fourth NBA season with Miami. 'I'm extremely appreciative of an organization that believes in me the way that they have up to this point,' said Smith, who has been waived by the Heat four different times before Miami has brought him back each time. 'But also I think, obviously, this hasn't been easy. There have been a lot of days where I've questioned whether this is what I'm supposed to be doing. I have amazing people around me.' Smith has spent much of the last two years rehabbing from significant setbacks, as he also sustained a knee injury in November 2023 that cut his 2023-24 season short before returning and then suffering a season-ending Achilles injury last December. But Smith hopes and expects to be ready for the start of training camp. He has already begun to take part in some contact work and is on track to begin participating in full five-on five action in the coming weeks. 'Honestly, it's all been going really well,' said Smith, with the Heat set to open training camp in six weeks on Sept. 30 at Florida Atlantic University in Boca Raton. 'I feel like I've been on a great trajectory as far as the rehab stuff goes. I've started to do some contact stuff now. I haven't jumped fully back into five on five. I would say probably here in the next few weeks or so. I think it's all just basically going to be how I respond to the more and more live sessions that I get in. 'I think the goal, obviously, is to be ready by camp. And I think that as of right now, with no setback, that's kind of what we're looking at.' Smith also hopes he can pick up where he left off just before he tore his Achilles eight months ago, as he had become an important part of the Heat's bench rotation last season before going down with a non-contact Achilles injury. Smith logged double-digit minutes in eight straight games before tearing his Achilles, establishing himself as a reliable and solid offensive option while also turning into a standout point-of-attack perimeter defender. In addition, he played the entire fourth quarter in five of the seven games leading up to his injury. 'I think more than anything what I learned is, obviously, that I can play at this level,' Smith said, looking back at that impressive stretch. 'For a full season, I really do believe I can help a team win games.' Smith averaged 6.2 points, 2.6 rebounds, 1.6 assists and 1.5 steals per appearance while shooting 50.8% from the field and 53.3% from three-point range in 14 games (one start) for the Heat last season before being sidelined with the season-ending injury. 'I don't really see why not,' Smith said when asked whether he believes he'll be able to get back to his pre-injury form. 'I wouldn't say this has necessarily been any worse of a rehab than the ACL or anything like that. I think [Heat senior director of rehabilitation] Jeff [Ruiz], who I work with every day, I think he's done an incredible job. 'I don't see any reason why I can't get back to being myself. The few times that I have been on the floor, I feel really good. I feel like I'm moving well.' But as part of a Heat roster loaded with guards, finding consistent playing time won't be easy for Smith. Tyler Herro, Norman Powell and Davion Mitchell are all expected to be ahead of Smith on the depth start to begin this upcoming season, and the Heat also used its first-round pick to draft guard Kasparas Jakucionis in June, is relying on guard Pelle Larsson to take on a bigger role in his second NBA season and still has Terry Rozier on its roster. Smith is up for the challenge, though. He has proven that during his winding and oftentimes difficult NBA journey. 'Honestly, the biggest challenge from this rehab specifically was just the mental part of it,' he said. 'Just really having to lean in on my faith and things like that and just understand for whatever reason, this is where my story was supposed to go. So just continuing to attack with a positive attitude. I think that was probably the toughest part because there are definitely days in there where it just seems like I've been rehabbing for two years at this point.' The Heat is expected to consider guard Jahmir Young for an Exhibit 10 contract, which essentially represents an invite to training camp and provides a financial incentive for that player to join the organization's G League affiliate. But a deal has not been signed yet, according to league sources. Young (6-foot-1 and 185 pounds), who closed last season on a two-way contract with the Chicago Bulls, went undrafted out of Maryland in 2024. He averaged 21.7 points, 4.5 rebounds, seven assists and 1.9 steals per game while shooting 46.8 percent from the field and 30.4 percent from three-point range in 43 G League appearances last season. NBA teams are allowed to carry up to 21 players during the offseason and preseason (including up to three two-way contract players). Not including Young since he hasn't signed a deal yet, the Heat's preseason roster currently includes 17 players signed to contracts (including two-way contracts and Exhibit 10 deals).
Yahoo
a day ago
- Yahoo
Kasparas Jakučionis explains why he'll wear No. 25 with the Heat
Rookie Kasparas Jakučionis will begin his career with the Miami Heat by wearing a new jersey number after arriving as the 20th overall pick in the 2025 NBA draft. Jakučionis wore No. 32 last season as a freshman at Illinois and No. 23 for two seasons with Barcelona. He has also donned No. 7 while representing Lithuania multiple times, most recently in the 2024 FIBA U18 EuroBasket Championship. With No. 7 currently occupied by Kel'el Ware and Nos. 23 (Michael Jordan) and 32 (Shaquille O'Neal) retired by the Heat, Jakučionis opted to wear No. 25. He chose it for a few reasons, but most notably, because of his sister, Kornelija. "(I chose it) because the draft class is 25," Jakučionis said. "Then also, I was wearing No. 7 before, so two plus five is seven, and also I was wearing 32, and 32 minus seven is 25. My sister's favorite number is 25, and her birthday is the 25th day." Jakučionis was named to the All-Big Ten third team last season, averaging 15 points, 5.7 rebounds and 4.7 assists on 44% shooting from 3-point range in 33 games. He led the team in scoring, tying the freshman record for total points in a season (494). The 19-year-old logged six appearances with the Heat in summer league, averaging 9.5 points, 2.8 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 1.5 steals on 31.8% shooting from the field. He dropped 24 points, four rebounds and four assists on July 11. Jakučionis is highly touted thanks to his ability to score at all three levels, playmaking, vision and passing. The team was encouraged by his first run and is eager to see him take the court when training camp begins next month. Note: Throughout August, Rookie Wire is looking at every first-round pick and why each player selected their respective jersey number as they make the jump to the NBA. Previous: Cooper Flagg | Dylan Harper | VJ Edgecombe | Kon Knueppel | Ace Bailey | Tre Johnson | Jeremiah Fears | Egor Dёmin | Collin Murray-Boyles | Khaman Maluach | Cedric Coward | Noa Essengue | Derik Queen | Carter Bryant | Thomas Sorber | Yang Hansen | Joan Beringer | Walter Clayton Jr. | Nolan Traoré This article originally appeared on Rookie Wire: Heat news: Kasparas Jakučionis explains why he'll wear No. 25 in NBA
USA Today
a day ago
- USA Today
Kasparas Jakučionis explains why he'll wear No. 25 with the Heat
Rookie Kasparas Jakučionis will begin his career with the Miami Heat by wearing a new jersey number after arriving as the 20th overall pick in the 2025 NBA draft. Jakučionis wore No. 32 last season as a freshman at Illinois and No. 23 for two seasons with Barcelona. He has also donned No. 7 while representing Lithuania multiple times, most recently in the 2024 FIBA U18 EuroBasket Championship. With No. 7 currently occupied by Kel'el Ware and Nos. 23 (Michael Jordan) and 32 (Shaquille O'Neal) retired by the Heat, Jakučionis opted to wear No. 25. He chose it for a few reasons, but most notably, because of his sister, Kornelija. "(I chose it) because the draft class is 25," Jakučionis said. "Then also, I was wearing No. 7 before, so two plus five is seven, and also I was wearing 32, and 32 minus seven is 25. My sister's favorite number is 25, and her birthday is the 25th day." Jakučionis was named to the All-Big Ten third team last season, averaging 15 points, 5.7 rebounds and 4.7 assists on 44% shooting from 3-point range in 33 games. He led the team in scoring, tying the freshman record for total points in a season (494). The 19-year-old logged six appearances with the Heat in summer league, averaging 9.5 points, 2.8 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 1.5 steals on 31.8% shooting from the field. He dropped 24 points, four rebounds and four assists on July 11. Jakučionis is highly touted thanks to his ability to score at all three levels, playmaking, vision and passing. The team was encouraged by his first run and is eager to see him take the court when training camp begins next month. Note: Throughout August, Rookie Wire is looking at every first-round pick and why each player selected their respective jersey number as they make the jump to the NBA. Previous: Cooper Flagg | Dylan Harper | VJ Edgecombe | Kon Knueppel | Ace Bailey | Tre Johnson | Jeremiah Fears | Egor Dёmin | Collin Murray-Boyles | Khaman Maluach | Cedric Coward | Noa Essengue | Derik Queen | Carter Bryant | Thomas Sorber | Yang Hansen | Joan Beringer | Walter Clayton Jr. | Nolan Traoré
