The Miami Heat will be without arguably their best offensive player in Tyler Herro (foot) at the start of the season.
The Heat have had a bottom-third offense each of the last three seasons, so it’s going to be an uphill trek for the first month to replace Herro’s production. It will need to be a collective effort, though three names who will receive a boost is Bam Adebayo, new Heat guard Norman Powell and Andrew Wiggins.
However, Herro mentioned one semi-shocking name during media day Monday.
“The easy answer is to say [Norman Powell] or [Andrew Wiggins] or [Bam Adebayo],” he said. “I think the young guys are the ones that are going to step up. I think [Nikola Jovic], in specific. I think he can really benefit from it, he’s one of the guys that can do a lot on the court, whether it’s bringing the ball up and getting out in transition, passing, scoring, attacking downhill. He can do a lot of it.
“Watching him in EuroBasket before I hurt my foot, not knowing I was going to be out to start the season, I was really excited to play with Niko, see how Niko continues to rise his game. I’m still looking forward to it, and I think Niko’s going to have a tremendous season.”
That is the easy answer, but it was surprising that he immediately named Jovic.
That said, it also makes some degree of sense.
Jovic has a lot to prove heading into the new season. He has not played more than 46 games in each of his first three seasons, including missing the final 27 games of last year’s regular season with a fractured hand.
Herro’s right — he has an unique skillset at 6-foot-10 as a play finisher, secondary ball handler, playmaker and spot-up 3-point shooter. But the 22-year-old hasn’t consistently been available to prove his worth. If he can take that next step, Miami’s in a much better position moving forward.
He’s coming off a very encouraging EuroBasket performance alongside Nikola Jokic and Team Serbia. Now, he’ll be tasked with a sizable role with Adebayo, Powell and Wiggins leading the charge. Whether he’s the team’s final starter or not, I’m a believer he’ll take that next step, but only time will tell.
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Interviews with players and Spo. Worth watching. Cooper Moorhead is a very good interviewer. He gets them to relax and open up right away.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BM6lk3HFB9I
What happened to h4l? Who shot Tupac? Where all the white women at?
Maybe he can’t be bothered with all this triviality. He will probably sht over the Jovic extension.
I especially miss his positivity, open-mindedness and love of the whitesides.
The only person I have been unimpressed with in the interviews of the last 2 days has been Ware. He seems lackadaisical, insincere. Keeps giving “I’m not the coach” type responses when asked about starting or coming off the bench. I would prefer to hear him say he’ll do everything he can to help his team win.
I saw 2 of Kel’el’s interviews. He’s a low-key mellow kind of fellow. He’s just happy to be in his current position and learning how to be a very good NBA center. As far as starting, I think he’s quietly confident and is just trying to be diplomatic by demonstrating that he’s a team player who wants to win. He defers to Spo’s judgement regarding the rotation. I honestly think he believes he will be a starter once all the dust settles. So do I.
I hope you’re right. But we’ve seen lapses in effort at times during the season and again in summer league until Spo lit a fire under him. Hopefully, he puts that behind him knowing it will not be tolerated.
If he doesn’t consistently give 100%, he will have no one to blame but himself if he doesn’t start or get plenty of minutes.
Ware Bam Wiggs Powell Mitchell…that’s my starting 5. Niko Precious JJJ Simon Terry next. yes, one last chance for Rozier lol
What about Smith, Larsson, Johnson and Jakuciones?
spot minutes but more for the guards. o yeah they’re mostly guards lol
Niko is a solid #6-#8 rotation player. He’s a late bloomer and who hasn’t fully blossomed or demonstrated the ability to start on a regular basis. If he steps up his game this season, gets a 3 year contract extension and if Wiggins goes down or does not return in 2026-2027, he should be in a good position to play SF/PF based on the team’s needs.
Nico’s time has come. I know VB will be rooting for him.
Breakout season from Jovic. Mad excited for the Heat!
Niko will be in the running for most improved if he stays healthy all season.