Miami Heat: 3 Goals for Rodney McGruder in 2018-19

Listen to the doc’

Behind McGruder’s hustle and grit is his ardent support of competing with his Miami Heat brethren. Going undrafted out of Kansas State in 2013, McGruder has finally found a home, and a fit, with Miami.

But he shouldn’t overdo it.

News broke about McGruder’s left leg stress fracture in October 2017, specifically on October 12. That was a day after Miami’s preseason game with the Washington Wizards, a game that marked McGruder’s fifth consecutive preseason start.

However, once the doctors sidelined him, McGruder revealed he had been playing through the pain for the entirety of preseason, believing it to be a minor, shin-related discomfort.

Of course, the Heat as an organization are revered for their medical and training staff. Catching McGruder’s injury before the regular season began is par for the course as far as Miami’s medical aptitude is concerned.

But just like Waiters knew when it was time to shut himself down for the season for ankle surgery, McGruder has to put his health first next season.

That’s easier said than done in South Beach. No one on Miami’s roster managed to play all 82 games, with Richardson clocking in closest at 81.

As much as McGruder wants to be on the court, knowing when to sideline himself is the biggest advantage he can provide. The Heat are acquainted with the difficulties of running with a partially healthy player – Whiteside’s languid season can attest to that.

Staying healthy will be a work-in-progress for McGruder, and the entire team. Thankfully, the Heat are deep enough that short term lapses shouldn’t completely derail their playoff dreams.