Miami Heat guard Dru Smith has been limited to just 23 games over the last two years due to two consecutive season-ending knee/lower leg injuries. But that’s not stopping the fourth-year guard from beating the odds so early into his NBA career.
You could argue that nobody in the Heat organization — at least publicly — is a bigger fan of Smith than head coach Erik Spoelstra, who spoke glowingly about Smith’s recovery earlier this week.
“What [Dru Smith] has is a superpower,” Spoelstra said earlier this week. “I wish you could take some of that, and just apply it to other players. When I say superpowers, it’s a level of grit, a level of fortitude, perseverance. However you want to describe it, he has no quit in him. He’s just absolutely relentless with his approach every day. He does not get discouraged. I’m sure he does, he just never shows anybody. But that’s the attitude, the mindset, that’s allowed him to fast-track the process.
“We want to be mindful of that. I don’t want to fast-track it, but in terms of where he’s at right now, we want to keep making sure he’s progressing. … We all love it because he inspires other guys. They see what he’s doing. They see the toughness.”
Smith, 27, appeared in 14 games — one shy of his career high — before rupturing his achilles in December.
He was playing the best basketball of his career, averaging 6.2 points, 2.6 rebounds and 1.5 steals on 50.8 percent shooting, knocking down 16 of his 30 3-pointers (53.3 percent).
The Heat decided to bring back the 6-foot-4 guard in August, signing him to a three-year deal with the final two years of his contract non-guaranteed.
When he’s healthy, it’s easy to foresee him factoring into the Heat rotation as a secondary ballhandler and point-of-attack defender off the bench — especially if he can continue consistently knocking down open threes.
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Dru Smith Fanclub
I hope and pray he doesn’t get another devastating injury like previous years, I love his potential so much. Big body pg, with good ball handling, and passing. POA defender, with solid base, bulldog mentality, shooting mechanics, and accuracy trending upward. I believe his d can be can be on the level of a prime jrue,smart, or white if he stays healthy gimme at least 55- 60 games…. I beg you.
I’m with you. If we get 55-60 games, I would be thrilled. To me, he’s got potential to be almost a younger Kyle Lowry.
Herro is not the solution to Miami’s issues. Before giving him any more money, I would like to see Miami do the following this season:
Words of wisdom. May it all come to pass.
Thanks 30. I’m looking forward to seeing the healthy guys play tomorrow (Ware, Bam, Powell, Wiggins, Fontecchio, Precious, Jovic, Jaquez, Johnson).
😂 I freaking love how much Spo loves this guy and hypes him up to no end, I used to not get it and didn’t want him on the team a couple years ago but now that the debate is over and he’s fully signed it still just keeps going I love it lol. Find someone who adores you as much as Spo adores Dru
I hope his superpower helps him get out on the court soon. The team needs him until/unless Rozier or Jakucionis demonstrates the ability to be a reliable back-up PG.
If Dru stays healthy, he will help us.