By Joel Perez 
Recognizing Tyler Herro as an NBA All-Star this season doesn’t feel like a stretch anymore,
simply because of the level of play he’s displayed to start the year. He has been, without
question, the most consistent offensive playmaker on the Miami Heat thus far—and it’s not even
close. Through 22 games, Tyler is averaging 24 points, 5 assists, and 5 rebounds per game.
While his stats alone are certainly All-Star caliber, what’s been most impressive is his improved
decision-making both on and off the ball compared to previous seasons.
Herro has been an above-average offensive player since entering the league, consistently
proving his worth. However, unfortunate injuries have often derailed him at the worst possible
moments. Take, for instance, the 2023 playoffs, when he broke his hand in the first round
against the Milwaukee Bucks during Miami’s magical Finals run. His offensive firepower could
have been a game-changer in any of those series—and perhaps, just perhaps, might have
given the Heat a better chance of overtaking Nikola Jokic and the Nuggets in the Finals. But
that’s all in the past.
Fast forward to today, and in 22 games, Herro has shown improvement across all facets of his
game. He’s been taking what the defense gives him, demonstrating a maturity that hasn’t
always been there in years past. After Miami’s recent win against the Cleveland Cavaliers,
Herro remarked in a postgame press conference: “Teams are pretty much picking me up full
court, pretty much the entire game, which is a tough coverage. Picking up someone full court
who can drive and get downhill but also respecting my three-point shot. You know, just playing
whatever the defense gives me and taking that.”
This mindset reflects his evolution as a player. He’s shifted his focus to threes and shots around
the basket rather than forcing the midrange game. The results speak for themselves. Yesterday
it was announced that he was named Player of the Week alongside Luka Doncic, thanks to
stellar performances during Miami’s strongest stretch of basketball this season. This included
wins over the top-seeded Cavaliers, the Phoenix Suns, and an emphatic blowout victory against
the Los Angeles Lakers In that game, Herro put up 31 points, scoring 21 of them in a
third-quarter explosion where he knocked down seven consecutive threes, lighting up the arena
with his sharpshooting.
The lineup of Tyler Herro and Duncan Robinson at the guard spots, alongside Jimmy Butler and
Haywood Highsmith on the wings with Bam Adebayo at center, has been the most productive
for the Heat. This unit excels by playing with pace and space on offense while having the
versatility to switch defensively and create turnovers. Their defensive prowess was on full
display in the game against the Lakers, where they consistently picked the pockets of opposing
players and disrupted passing lanes with precision. Miami holds a top-5 defensive rating in the
league, steadily improving since the start of the season.
However, the one disappointment for the Heat this year has been the regression of Terry Rozier.
He was expected to start alongside Tyler Herro and form one of the league’s best offensive
backcourts. Unfortunately, Rozier has struggled, averaging a subpar 12 points per game
through 22 games, with flashes of brilliance overshadowed by prolonged slumps. There’s still
plenty of time for Rozier to find his groove, and every Heat fan remains hopeful that he’ll return
to form as a 20-point-per-game scorer, stretching the floor and serving as a secondary
playmaker—roles he has proven capable of in the past.
Despite the disappointment, I still have faith in Rozier to become an effective player for the Heat
moving forward. That said, it’s frustrating that this was our “big move” last year, as well as the
front office’s main offseason acquisition. The organization has leaned heavily on Rozier as their
“chess move,” using his arrival as a justification for not making significant changes this summer.
While I agree with the decision not to overhaul the entire roster, I’ve grown attached to this core
of Herro, Butler, and Adebayo. I’m optimistic they can make another Finals run and prove, both
to themselves and the rest of the league, that they belong among the NBA’s elite.
Bam didn’t have the start everyone was expecting, but he’s been slowly returning to the form we
know him for—a top-three center in this league, just as Tyler Herro mentioned in his postgame
presser yesterday when asked about Bam’s recent play. Coming off yet another gold medal run
in the Olympics, where he showcased flashes of pure greatness alongside Anthony Davis, Bam
proved to be part of one of the most formidable frontcourt duos I’ve ever seen on the court
defensively. They were nearly perfect on the defensive side of the ball, which only amplified the
optimism and expectations for Bam heading into this season.
He’s pulled himself together over the past couple of games, and I can finally say I feel confident
in Bam hitting his threes at an efficient rate moving forward. That’s strictly from a fan’s
perspective, but it’s exciting to see him making an effort to space the floor and finally take some
threes. With time, adding that to his arsenal could even open up his offensive game further.
Jimmy Butler, on the other hand, has missed his fair share of games this season. Still, for the
most part, he’s been his usual self. All I can really hope for is that he stays healthy throughout
the regular season and playoffs, picking his spots and aligning himself with Tyler and Bam. If he
continues to find his groove for the rest of the way to Game 82, it could make a huge difference.
Consistency on the court can pay off greatly for this team, potentially translating into plenty of
wins in the long run. Having “Boy Wonder” take his game to another level has already brought
so much more hope to this season. As Heat fans, we can only hope he keeps up this level of
play and even gets recognized for it with a well-deserved spot in the All-Star game, representing
Miami.
Angel Rivera