Although Willie Reed had already been making a name for himself for three years, it was the 2015 Orlando Summer League where people really started to take notice.

Thanks to the big man’s dominance inside, the HEAT got off to a 4-0 start in Orlando, which prompted Brooklyn to sign him to a one-year deal.

While only with Miami for a short period of time, Reed knew there was something unique about the way the organization did things.

“I got better in that short span, in those couple of weeks, than I did most of that season, so I knew that they [did] a great job at being able to develop players,” Reed said. “They had a way with the players. Being able to communicate with them, as well as to get the best out of them. And I thought, ‘What better opportunity do I have this summer than to be able to sign with the team that helped me grow so much?’”

That growth was evident in Reed’s first career NBA start as a member of the Nets on March 5 against the Minnesota Timberwolves. In that contest, the 6-foot-10 center totaled 14 points, eight rebounds, four blocks and three assists.

Otherwise, the then-25-year-old played sparingly for Brooklyn, but he made the most of his playing time behind Brook Lopez. In particular, Reed upped his production after the All-Star Break, averaging 5.5 points, 4.0 rebounds and 1.2 blocks on 54.7 percent shooting in 12.2 minutes per game.

With the HEAT, his role will presumably be more significant than it was with the Nets. The Saint Louis product is an athletic, active big who dives to the basket with force. He has also shown the ability to finish at the rim in traffic. On the flip side of the ball, Reed shows strong instincts as a shot blocker.

“My defense is ahead of my offense at this point in my career…so I’ve been working extremely hard this summer of getting better at the offensive end,” Reed said. “I think that working with Juwan [Howard] and some of the other coaching staff is going to help me to get even better at my offense and keeping the rest of the stuff that I do well, accelerating at that [and] doing it at a higher level.”

In addition to having a good relationship with the coaching staff, Reed also has familiarity with Miami’s young core from his time around the team during last year’s Summer League. For that, he’s excited about what’s to come in 2016-17.

“Obviously, you’re going to have those players that I’ve played with...so we have some chemistry already. I think that it’s going to be real exciting this season,” Reed said. “I think we’re going to get up and down, we’re going to play at a fast pace and play physical. I’m just looking forward to this opportunity coming this season.”