Does Tyler Herro have case to make All-Star reserves?

Last week, the 2024-25 NBA All-Star starters from both conferences were revealed, and the NBA All-Star reserves will be named on Thursday, Jan. 30.

The selection process is different for starters versus reserves. The starters are decided by a combination of fans (50 percent), coaches and media while reserves are only chosen by head coaches.

Miami Heat guard Tyler Herro has had an All-Star-caliber season. While he may be on the brink of earning his first career All-Star nod, does he have a case to have a legitimate case to make the reserves–made up up of two guards, three wings and two wild card spots? Let’s examine!

Does Miami Heat guard Tyler Herro have a legitimate case to make All-Star reserves?

For the season, Herro’s averaged 24.0 points, 5.5 rebounds and 5.2 assists on 47.6 percent shooting, including 40.5 percent from 3-point range and 87.4 percent from the free-throw line. All of those aforementioned statistics sans his free-throw percentage are career marks up to this point, appearing in 43 of the team’s 45 games. There’s no question that he’s been one of the league’s most improved players because of his reformed shot diet. He’s the sole reason why the Heat has been kept afloat through 44 games.

But there are still plenty of deserving names vying for reserve spots–let’s list a few that could be up for consideration, shall we?

Guards:

• Darius Garland, Cavaliers
• Damian Lillard, Bucks
• Tyrese Haliburton, Pacers
• Tyrese Maxey, 76ers
• Cade Cunningham, Pistons
• Trae Young, Hawks
• LaMelo Ball, Hornets

Forwards/Centers:

• Jaylen Brown, Celtics
• Pascal Siakam, Pacers
• Josh Hart, Knicks
• Evan Mobley, Cavaliers
• Nikola Vucevic, Bulls
• Zach LaVine, Bulls

That’s a loaded list. Not that Herro is or isn’t deserving, but that’s not going to be a very easy list for coaches to parse through between eight spots.

Herro may be up for consideration between the two guard spots, but some combination of Cunningham, Garland, Ball and Lillard are also right there.

Cunningham is averaging a near 25-10 double-double and is the biggest reason why the Pistons have already improved by nine wins from a year ago; Garland has been the third-best player and one of the primary engines on the best team in the NBA; while he’s only played in 30 of his team’s 42 games, LaMelo Ball’s averaging 28.9 points and 7.5 assists on 54.8 percent true-shooting; Lillard’s arguably playing his best basketball since arriving in Milwaukee, averaging 25.2 points and 7.3 assists for a team fighting or homecourt.

One could assume that two of those players earn the two guard spots over Herro while one–perhaps two–fight with Miami’s 25-year-old for the two wild card spots.

The forward reserves are a little more fuzzy–with Mobley likely being the one guarantee. Siakam hasn’t necessarily stood out statistically, but he’s still been arguably the most impactful player on arguably a top-5 team in the East; Jaylen Brown, the reigning Finals MVP, hasn’t been as efficient, but has still been one of the best two-way wings in the East; Josh Hart is averaging 14-10-6 while Zach LaVine (forward? guard?) is having arguably the best season of his career.

There is always going to be snubs. As good as Herro’s been, there’s no guarantees that he makes the reserves–like there’s no guarantee that Young, Haliburton, Ball, Lillard, LaVine, Hart or most players listed above do. I think Herro is deserving, but there are perhaps 12-13 deserving names for only seven spots with plenty of great cases to be made.

Do you think Tyler Herro has an overwhelming case? Let us know in the comments below!

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