Miami Heat Culture: This Is Why They’ll Always Be Around And Competitive

Miami Heat forward Derrick Jones Jr. (5) celebrates his score with forward Duncan Robinson (55) and guard Kendrick Nunn (25)(Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports)
Miami Heat forward Derrick Jones Jr. (5) celebrates his score with forward Duncan Robinson (55) and guard Kendrick Nunn (25)(Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports)
3 of 3
Miami Heat
Miami Heat guard Max Strus (31) shoots as Oklahoma City Thunder center Mike Muscala (33) defends(Alonzo Adams-USA TODAY Sports)

Miami Heat Culture: Current Examples Of Why They’ll Always Be Around And Competitive

Listen, it can even go deeper than that with the Miami Heat. You can even look more recently.

Tyler Herro was taken at 13 in the 2019 NBA Draft. Right now, there are only four or five guys, maybe, that you would take before him.

There are only two surefire guys on that list in Zion Williamson and Ja Morant. It sounds crazy, but with his contributions in the moments they’ve come in, his improvement from year to year, his role at the moment as a key bench guy, and his remaining high potential trajectory… it’s completely true.

If that doesn’t do it for you. Look at guys like Max Strus and Omer Yurtseven. They are tearing up the beginning of summer league play.

Though they are, technically, veterans at this point, there are some new guys that prove this case for Miami as well. How does Marcus Garrett, Javonte Smart, and another guy or so go undrafted?

Who knows, but it makes complete sense that the Miami Heat, who had no picks in the draft, are the guys that got them. It’s just what they do.

Along with the typical routes of finding talent and acquiring players, the Miami Heat excel here. They consistently find guys that no one else values, that are undervalued, or aren’t on the radars of other teams… and turn them into prime-time players.

Pat Riley has his ways, but he sticks to his code. He, Adam Simon, Andy Elisburg, and the rest of the Miami Heat decision makers are truly playing chess… while everyone else shoots marbles.