Miami Heat guard Tyler Herro is set to make his return after a tough stretch on the sidelines. Herro, who fractured three ribs last month, finally spoke to the media, shedding light on the ordeal.
“There’s not too much discomfort anymore,” Herro shared. “A few weeks ago, I couldn’t even get out of bed.
It was crazy. My ribs were in a lot of pain.
Doing normal lifestyle things, I couldn’t do. There was no way I could play basketball.
I can fully move how I’m supposed to now. Just focused on staying healthy the rest of the season.”
After missing 15 games, Herro is back in action for the Heat’s matchup against the Atlanta Hawks. Miami is in a good spot health-wise, with only Terry Rozier and a couple of two-way players out.
However, Herro won’t be taking any chances. He’ll be wearing a specially designed NFL-style flak jacket to protect his ribs.
“They had like a sewing person come in and sew a whole new pad in for me,” Herro explained. “I look like a football player almost out there.
Hopefully I just don’t get hit there and we’ll be good.”
As the Heat gear up for their post-All-Star schedule, there’s plenty to watch. Miami is eyeing a top-six seed in the Eastern Conference, and there are intriguing subplots to follow. Tyler Herro and Norman Powell are both in the mix for offseason extensions, while the team evaluates Nikola Jovic’s role moving forward.
Rookie Myron Gardner is another name to watch. After a standout stint on a two-way deal, he’s earned a three-year contract.
Head coach Erik Spoelstra praised Gardner’s relentless energy and hard work. “He had to do it the hard way,” Spoelstra said.
“You couldn’t not notice his energy. It’s relentless.”
With Gardner’s promotion, Trevor Keels steps into the two-way slot. Spoelstra is excited about Keels’ offensive prowess, calling him a “sniper,” and is eager to see his defensive growth. “He has made improvement, and we want to invest more resources and time into that development,” Spoelstra noted.
The Heat’s point guard rotation, featuring Davion Mitchell, Dru Smith, and Kasparas Jakucionis, adds another layer of intrigue. Each brings unique strengths, and Spoelstra values their contributions. The question remains how they’ll fit with Herro back in the mix.
As the Heat navigate the final stretch of the season, there’s no shortage of storylines to keep fans engaged. From Herro’s return to the development of young talent, Miami’s journey promises to be an exciting one.