Precious Achiuwa Returns to Miami Heat on One-Year Deal

Precious Achiuwa #5 of the New York Knicks looks on during the fourth quarter of a game against the Detroit Pistons at Little Caesars Arena on April 10, 2025 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Mike Mulholland/Getty Images)

By Liam Tate | Sept 24, 2025 | 9:04 PM |

The Miami Heat are bringing back a familiar face. Forward/center Precious Achiuwa has agreed to a one-year contract with the franchise that originally drafted him in 2020, Shams Charania told ESPN.

Achiuwa, 26, was selected by Miami with the No. 20 pick in the 2020 NBA Draft and spent his rookie season as part of the Heat’s rotation before being included in the 2021 sign-and-trade deal that brought Kyle Lowry from Toronto. In the years since, Achiuwa developed into a versatile frontcourt option, spending two and a half seasons with the Raptors before joining the New York Knicks midway through the 2023-24 campaign.

In New York, Achiuwa played 57 games last season, starting 10, and averaged 6.6 points and 5.6 rebounds in 20.5 minutes per game. His best year came in 2022-23, when he posted career highs of 9.2 points and 6.5 rebounds per contest. Over his four-year career, Achiuwa has appeared in 320 games with averages of 7.6 points and 5.7 rebounds.

The Heat’s decision to bring Achiuwa back is widely viewed as a depth move, reinforcing a frontcourt that has often leaned heavily on All-Star Bam Adebayo. 

The one-year agreement is expected to be a low-risk contract that allows Miami flexibility while giving Achiuwa the opportunity to carve out a steady backup role. Achiuwa’s prior experience with Miami, combined with his growth in Toronto and New York, gives head coach Erik Spoelstra a player who can contribute immediately while reinforcing the team’s defensive and rotational schemes.