Erik Spoelstra: Tyler Herro 'should be an All-Star'

Tyler Herro Spoelstra — Miami Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra is a believer that Tyler Herro should be an All-Star reserve, which won’t be announced until Thursday. (Mandatory Credit: Stacy Revere/Getty Images)

We are less roughly 24 hours away from when the 2024-25 All-Star Game reserves get announced.

The 10 starters from each conference were announced last week, voted on by a combination of fans (50 percent), coaches and media members. The reserves, however, are voted by the coaches themselves.

One player squarely in the mix for one of the seven spots in the Eastern Conference is Miami Heat guard Tyler Herro, who’s having the best season of his career. While it remains to be seen if Herro earns that nod, he earned the stamp of approval to be an All-Star from Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra Wednesday.

“I do think Tyler should be an All Star,” Spoelstra said, according to Anthony Chiang of The Miami Herald. “His play speaks for itself. … I’m hopeful the coaches vote him in. That’s the ultimate respect.

“Opposing teams have to game plan against him. You have to spend a good deal of time in shootarounds and film sessions developing some kind of specific plan for him. In January, he’s been the most trapped player on pick and rolls. That’s a sign of great respect. His off-ball movement, all of those things have really improved. I think it will happen. I do. His play has been that consistent.”

Herro is posting career-highs in every statistical category, including points, rebounds, assists, field goal percentage, 3-point percentage and 3-point attempts. He’s been the focal point of a Heat offense that’s been the 16th-most efficient unit in the league largely without star forward Jimmy Butler.

He has a legitimate case because of his consummate impact. But as we recently went over, so do his counterparts in the East. There are only seven spots–four for Herro since he’s not a wing–with players such as Darius Garland, Damian Lillard, Cade Cunningham and LaMelo Ball all fighting for, among others. That’s a loaded pack, even though Herro deserves to be entrenched with all of them.

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

At the end of the day, it’s 50-50 whether or not he makes the team, believe it or not. It wouldn’t shock me if he will or won’t, but Spoelstra rightfully backed his 25-year-old guard, who’s been the biggest reason why the Heat enters Wednesday night one game above .500.

“It’s a great opportunity to be a part of,” he said. “But if not, like I said before, there are a lot of great guards in the East who I think are well deserving as well as myself. So we’ll see what happens.”

Tyler Herro will be tested Wednesday night as the Miami Heat take on the Cleveland Cavaliers at 7:30 p.m. EST, hoping to keep their recent win streak alive!