The Miami Heat may have found their superstar in Giannis Antetokounmpo, but one overlooked weakness could determine whether their ambitious new era ends in glory or disappointment.

While much of the attention surrounding Miami has understandably centred on Giannis and the pieces surrounding him, the biggest concern may actually sit at the point guard position. And, perhaps unfairly, an enormous amount of responsibility now appears to be falling on the shoulders of Davion Mitchell.

Mitchell is heading into the new season with expectations that could be difficult for almost any guard to handle.

Miami has built a roster capable of dreaming about the top of the Eastern Conference. Giannis gives them an elite interior presence, Bam Adebayo remains one of the league’s most versatile big men, and the Heat have added additional scoring and shooting to improve the supporting cast.

But there is one glaring question.

Who is going to consistently run the offense?

That is where Mitchell enters the picture.

The Heat chose not to make a major addition to their backcourt during the offseason, leaving Mitchell in a position where his performances could have an outsized impact on the team’s ceiling.

This is not necessarily because Miami lacks faith in him. Mitchell has shown flashes of quality and has looked increasingly comfortable since arriving in Miami. The problem is that the Heat may need considerably more than flashes this season.

They may need the best version of Mitchell we’ve ever seen.

With limited depth behind him, there is little room for the point guard position to malfunction. If Mitchell struggles with injuries, consistency or offensive production, Miami could suddenly find itself with a major weakness despite having one of the most talented frontcourts in the NBA.

And that is precisely why some observers remain unconvinced that the Heat are genuine championship contenders.

One NBA scout quoted by Heat insider Barry Jackson offered a particularly blunt assessment when discussing Miami’s title chances, pointing directly at the team’s guard play as the reason for the skepticism.

That criticism may sound harsh, but it highlights the dilemma facing Erik Spoelstra’s team.

Miami can surround Giannis with talent. They can rely on Bam. They can get production from the wings. They can improve their shooting.

But somebody still has to control the basketball, create opportunities and keep the offense functioning when opponents inevitably make life difficult for the Heat’s stars.

At the moment, Mitchell appears to be the player expected to shoulder much of that responsibility.

That is an enormous ask.

The former lottery pick has established himself as a quality NBA guard, particularly defensively, but expecting him to suddenly transform into a borderline All-Star-level offensive engine is a completely different proposition.

And that distinction matters.

If Mitchell takes a significant leap, Miami’s outlook could change dramatically. A confident, productive lead guard alongside Giannis and Bam would give the Heat another dimension and potentially silence many of the doubters surrounding the roster.

However, if Mitchell performs around his previous level, Miami could find itself desperately searching for answers in the backcourt.

The irony is that Mitchell could end up being judged against expectations that were never realistically his to carry.

The Heat’s championship ambitions existed because they acquired Giannis. Their decision not to strengthen the point guard position was made by the organisation. Yet Mitchell may ultimately receive much of the criticism if the experiment doesn’t work.

That would be extremely difficult to justify.

Miami’s front office has effectively placed its faith in Mitchell, and now the guard has to respond.

This could be the defining season of his career.

The Heat don’t necessarily need Mitchell to become the next superstar. They simply need him to provide enough organisation, playmaking, defensive pressure and offensive consistency to prevent the backcourt from becoming the roster’s fatal weakness.

That’s easier said than done.

With Giannis now in Miami, the standard has changed. The Heat are no longer simply trying to remain competitive or sneak into the postseason. Expectations have risen dramatically, and anything short of a serious championship push could be viewed as a disappointment.

That leaves Mitchell walking into one of the most demanding situations of his career.

If he thrives, Miami could look far more dangerous than the doubters expect.

If he struggles, however, the Heat’s decision to leave the backcourt relatively untouched could become one of the biggest talking points of their entire season.

And that is why Davion Mitchell may be carrying far more pressure than anyone outside Miami expected.