Tyler Herro’s Tough Season Raises Questions - But Is He Really Overrated?
Tyler Herro’s 2025-26 campaign has been more about what we haven’t seen than what we have. After a breakout season last year - 77 games played, his first All-Star nod - Herro has suited up just 11 times for the Miami Heat this season. And while his numbers when he has played are solid (21.9 points per game on 49.7% from the field, 35.8% from three, and over 90% from the line), availability - or lack thereof - has become the headline.
And that’s where the debate begins.
Some, like Bleacher Report’s Greg Swartz, have gone as far as to label Herro “overrated,” citing durability concerns, defensive limitations, and the Heat’s own track record without him - namely their run to the 2023 NBA Finals after he went down with a hand injury in Game 1. The argument? Miami looked better without him, which should be telling.
But let’s pump the brakes for a second.
Yes, Herro has only crossed the 70-game mark once in his seven-year career. And yes, his defensive shortcomings have been exposed, particularly in the postseason.
But calling him overrated assumes there’s still a large segment of the league or fanbase that holds him in too high a regard. Is that really the case?
Let’s look at the context.
Herro made the All-Star team last season - a recognition decided by coaches, not fans or media - based on his performance over roughly the first 50 games. That was earned.
He was efficient, confident, and a legitimate offensive weapon. But the playoffs told a different story.
In a series against the Cavaliers, he became a defensive target, hunted relentlessly by Darius Garland and Ty Jerome. That’s the kind of exposure that sticks in the minds of front offices and fans alike.
And that’s the key point here - the league knows who Tyler Herro is. He’s a gifted scorer with a smooth handle and a confident jumper, but he’s also a one-way guard who struggles to stay healthy and can be exploited defensively. That’s not exactly a mystery anymore.
If anything, the pendulum may have already swung in the other direction. The Heat haven’t been able to extract a star-level trade package for him, and the league’s appetite for high-scoring, low-defense guards has cooled. Just look at how teams now prioritize versatility and two-way impact - especially in the playoffs, where mismatches get magnified.
Even when Herro was coming off a career year, the Heat didn’t find a robust market for him. There was chatter about testing the waters after the Magic sent four first-round picks to Memphis for Desmond Bane, but that deal looks more like an outlier than a sign of a rising market for Herro-type players.
That’s not to say Herro isn’t valuable. He is.
He’s a talented offensive player who can create his own shot, space the floor, and hit free throws at an elite clip. But he’s also a player with clear limitations - and in today’s NBA, those limitations matter more than ever.
So, is Herro overrated? It depends on who you ask.
If the consensus around the league and among fans is that he’s a flawed, injury-prone scorer who can’t anchor a defense or carry a team deep into the playoffs, then calling him overrated feels like a stretch. You can’t be overrated if no one’s overrating you.
Ultimately, Herro’s story isn’t about being over- or underrated - it’s about fit, health, and how the modern NBA values certain skill sets. He’s still a good player. But in a league that’s getting smarter about hiding weaknesses and maximizing versatility, being “just” a scorer doesn’t carry the same weight it once did.
And until Herro proves he can stay on the floor and hold his own on both ends, that’s likely where the conversation will stay.