Could there be a rift forming in the Miami Heat locker room? Recent comments from one of the team’s All-Stars seem to suggest there might be.
Bam Adebayo seemingly commented on Tyler Herro’s work ethic in a recent interview. He talked about how Herro could stand to learn something by playing against Team USA this summer.
"“He’ll get the chance to go against the best in the USA. So I feel like that’s one of the biggest things that he can get. And obviously, getting to watch, like, people’s work ethic and how they go about their professional business.”"
Many people have been focusing on the second part of Adebayo’s statement which references an opportunity to learn more about being professional.
Multiple media outlets have referred to this as “shade” towards Herro. The young guard had a rough sophomore season after the bar was set extremely high following an impressive Finals run.
During the 2019-20 playoffs, Herro averaged 16 points per game and shot super efficiently. However, this past year he failed to crack 10 points per game and shot below 40% from both the field and three-point range.
With his quick rise to stardom in the bubble, some of the success may have gone to Herro’s head. This sort of behavior is something that Heat Culture prides itself on avoiding.
According to Heavy.com, rumors say he has been “too focused on off-court pursuits rather than improving as a player.” This led to a subpar second season and constant trade rumors.
Earlier this offseason, reports surfaced that the Miami Heat are likely to trade Herro before the start of next season. Ethan J. Skolnick of Five Reasons Sports believes there is a 75% chance of this happening.
These trade rumblings come only half a season after the Miami Heat supposedly refused to deal Herro in a trade for James Harden. Now, the young star could have significantly less trade value.
With Adebayo’s recent statement, it’s more clear than ever that the team could be getting sick of Herro’s antics. The All-Star center is a relatively quiet figure, so him speaking out in this manner is interesting to see.
This summer could provide a great opportunity for Herro to mature as both a player and a person. Maybe Adebayo was simply trying to push his teammate in a positive way.
However, there is a chance that this could signal the end of Herro’s time with the Miami Heat. Only time will tell.