Miami Heat: Counting down the 5 best things from 2019-20 season

4. Two rookie guards exceed expectations

The Heat was delighted to two young shooting guards – Tyler Herro and Kendrick Nunn – becoming key contributors. Herro was drafted 13th overall out of Kentucky this past summer while Nunn was signed near the end of last season after going undrafted in 2018. He spent last season with the G-League’s Santa Cruz Warriors.

Despite strong play in the summer league, neither were expected to be this good this quickly.

Nunn has started in all 62 games he’s played in, averaging 15.6 points and 3.4 assists on 44.8 percent field goal shooting and 36.2 percent 3-point shooting. He has been named the Eastern Conference Rookie of the Month three times and ranks third in points per game and fourth in assists per game among rookies.

Herro has come off the bench, playing 47 games and starting in six. He has averaged 12.9 points on 41.4 percent shooting from the field and 39.1 percent shooting from beyond the arc. Among rookies, Herro ranks 5th in triples – he’s the only player in the top five to play less than 50 games – and 8th in points per game.

Both young guards have had big moments this season. Nunn has scored 25 or more points in six games – Miami won five of them – including 26 points in a road victory against the Philadelphia 76ers, one of their two losses at home. Herro has scored 25 or more points three times – all Miami wins – and has hit numerous clutch shots across multiple games.

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The rookie guards are both strong candidates to be named to the All-Rookie teams. Although neither have well-rounded skillsets, they have a solid foundation of scoring abilities to build on. The 20-year-old Herro and 24-year-old Nunn have undoubtedly cemented spots in Miami’s young core.