Heading into the 2022-23 season, Tyler Herro opined about wanting to be a full-time starter, which he earned during that subsequent training camp. Nearly two calendar years later, Herro sung a different tune during Media Day ahead of the 2024-25 season.
“I’m going to leave it to [head coach Erik Spoelstra] and [Heat president Pat Riley],” he commented Monday. “Whatever they say I am, that’s what I am.
“You can say I am a starter, I’m off the bench—we’re going to let to the best coach in the league decide, and we’re going to let one of the best GM’s and presidents ever to decide if I’m starting or coming off the bench. I’m willing to do whatever it takes to win a championship.”
Tyler Herro on being a starter or off the bench: “I’m going to leave it to Spo and Pat for whatever they say I am, that’s what I am.
“You can say I am a starter, I’m off the bench—we’re going to let to the best coach in the league decide, and we’re going to let one of the best…
— Hot Hot Hoops (@hothothoops) September 30, 2024
Herro on starting vs bench:
“Whatever they say I am, that’s what I am.. We gonna let the best coach in 🏀 decide. We’re going to let one of the best GMs/presidents ever to do this decide if I’m starting/coming off the bench, I’m willing to do whatever it takes to win a 🏆.” pic.twitter.com/x6Bpzpt402
— Naveen Ganglani (@naveenganglani) September 30, 2024
Herro won the league’s Sixth Man of the Year in 2021-22, averaging 20.7 points, 5.0 rebounds and 4.0 assists in 32.6 minutes per game. He started in 10 of his 66 games that season, despite playing starter’s minutes entrenched in their second unit alongside the likes of Gabe Vincent, Max Strus and Caleb Martin, among others.
The 24-year-old started all 67 of the team’s games in 2022-23 before missing practically all of that postseason with a broken hand. He then opened the season as the team’s starter before ankle and foot injuries derailed most of his season. He returned in early April and was the team’s primary scoring option throughout their brief five-game series against Boston, averaging 16.8 points and 5.4 assists on 38.5/34.9/90.0 shooting splits.
It was reported earlier this month that only two “definite” starters are heading into the new season, though Spoelstra hinted at Herro starting–alongside Terry Rozier, Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo.
That quartet played 240 possessions (118 minutes) last season, finishing a minus-2 with a minus-1.3 NET Rating. Their two most used lineups with that combination–one with Haywood Highsmith and another with Caleb Martin, who’s now in Philadelphia–played 211 of those possessions (105 minutes) with a 1.2 NET Rating.
Herro said all the right things Monday, which was very encouraging, given the circumstances. He’s hungry, motivated and willing to sacrifice for the greater good. Whether or not it translates into on-court success remains to be seen, but “Boy Wonder” is in a good head space heading into a make-or-break season with the Heat.
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Good to see the maturity and humility from Tyler
I love this new maturity from herro, it shows that he’s serious about winning a ring, hopefully he improves, and becomes more durable as well. Although I wanted to see how a full season of the lineup starring terry,herro,jimmy,jovic,bam would be like… I’d rather have herro leading as 6th man. Boy wonder as a 6th man again would be terrific, and would make our bench more potent. While the starting lineup is more balanced. My top 4 options for starting sg are Robinson, locksmith, jrich, and jjj in that order.