Tyler Herro already drawing rave reviews in Miami

(Al Diaz/Miami Herald/Tribune News Service via Getty Images)
(Al Diaz/Miami Herald/Tribune News Service via Getty Images)

It has taken next to no time for exciting Miami Heat rookie shooting guard Tyler Herro to draw rave reviews from around the league.

It began in Summer League and it’s already transferred to the NBA preseason schedule. That is, Miami Heat rookie Tyler Herro rapidly demonstrating that he is here to stay.

In the opener against the San Antonio Spurs, Herro exploded off the bench by hitting his first six field goal attempts on his way to a team-high 18 points in just 24 minutes of action. Showing a level of confidence not often seen from a 19-year-old, Herro’s array of offensive moves at this ultra-early stage have thus far been incredible.

Although he managed just eight points on 2-of-6 shooting in a starting role the following game against the Charlotte Hornets, Herro returned to his flame-throwing form of the Spurs’ outing. In his second straight start, Herro posted a team-high 23 points on 9-of-14 shooting, including 5-of-7 from long range, as the Heat trounced the Atlanta Hawks, 120-87.

https://twitter.com/NBATV/status/1181731381744766977?s=20

Like the opening game, Herro was on fire from the outset, scoring the Heat’s first 14 points of the contest, and his first six field goal attempts overall. While these early performances have certainly woken up many observers around the league, they haven’t come as a surprise to anyone with the Heat.

Just after he was selected at No. 13 overall, Heat president Pat Riley exclaimed the following:

As a rookie shooting guard, it would be understandable that Herro’s primary use on offense would be coming off screens and other basic spot-up opportunities. However, its been his ability to create his own shot off the dribble has been most impressive.

Through three games, 55.6 percent of Herro’s made baskets have come unassisted, with 100 percent of his 4-of-6 shooting return from between 10-19 feet from the rim coming off his own accord. Following his terrific performance against the Hawks, 20-year veteran Vince Carter made special note of Herro’s outlook at this early stage:

"“The young kid can play. We all put work in to try to get to the NBA, but it’s what you do once you get here. And that’s a big complement to him as a rookie.”"

With Dion Waiters assigned to a bench role for the first two games and missing the last game due to personal reasons, the odds for Herro being the Heat’s starting shooting guard come opening night are shortening by the day.

So for the final take at this incredibly early stage of his development, here’s what head coach Erik Spoelstra noted following his dominant display against the Hawks:

"“We’re just trying to prepare him as much as we can to be ready to help us win….he still has a long way to go defensively, he knows that. As many hours as he’s putting in shooting, which is notable, we’re making him put equal that, double that, defensively, film study, everything….he’s eating it up, you can’t give him enough.”"

So with two preseason games remaining, Tyler Herro will be using this time to continue learning as much as possible until the regular season tips off at home on Oct. 23 against the Memphis Grizzlies.