Sun Sentinel Palm Beach Edition
Herro seeks to pick up where he left off — as a starter
Tyler Herro excelled during his rookie season when it came to forcing coach Erik Spoelstra into decisions.
More minutes. More shots. More of a role as closer.
Now the second-year Miami
Heat guard is hoping to do it again. He wants to start.
“I think everybody’s goal is to start and try to impact winning as much as possible,” he said Wednesday as the Heat continued training-camp workouts at AmericanAirlines Arena.
“So I’m just continuing to get better and hopefully I can do whatever it takes to become a starter. But I’m willing to do whatever the team needs me to do. I came off the bench last year and it worked out well, so whatever Coach wants me to do, I’m willing to do.”
After starting eight times during his 55 regular-season appearances, Herro reverted to a bench role for the Heat’s first 16 playoff games during their run to the NBA Finals.
But then in the finals, when Goran Dragic went down with his foot injury, Herro was elevated to starter for the series’ final five games.
Now the confident 20-year-old wouldn’t mind picking up where he left off.
“When you’re preparing for a game, you prepare like you’re starting,” Herro said. “But if you’re not, if you’re coming off the bench, everybody has a role. Only five people can start, so you’ve just got to make adjustments.
“Whatever my role is, I’m ready to take it on. I feel like I can always make the most out of my role, no matter what it is. I know Coach will put me in the right spots to make me successful.”
Selected No. 13 in the 2019 draft out of Kentucky, Herro last season showed a maturity beyond his years. That had him among the first to befriend Precious Achiuwa after the forward out of Memphis was selected at No. 20 in the Nov. 18 draft.
“I just wanted to reach out and be able to make him feel as at home and as comfortable as possible,” Herro said. “I remembered being drafted last year and coming in, and Jimmy [Butler] took me under his wing. I’m not saying I’m taking Precious under my wing, but [I’m] trying to make him feel comfortable.
“I was in his shoes and I know what it can be like coming into an arena by yourself at a young age.”
With the NBA’s four-month shutdown due to the coronavirus pandemic, the return in the quarantine setting at Disney World and then the Heat’s run through the Oct. 11 close to the season with their Game 6 Finals loss to the Los Angeles Lakers, Herro’s rookie season ran 16 months.
That has him feeling like more than a second-year player.
“It does feel like it’s my third, fourth year,” said Herro, who turns 21 on Jan. 20. “It’s been a long, long time since I’ve been drafted. So I’m just ready for Year 2. I feel like I’m better than I was in the bubble. I’m ready to get started.
“I’m still 20. We still have amazing vets and I’m still young, so I can get good or get better by myself. I can try to do more.”
Along the way, Herro developed a strong bond with Butler, who made a point of the team celebrating Tyler Tuesdays. But he also said he appreciated staying in his lane.
“He asked me to go on vacation,” Herro said. “He was going on vacation for like 22 days or something like that after the season. I was like, ‘I think you need to go by yourself and just enjoy it. You did a lot for us this year.’ ”