Miami Heat: 3 reasons why Marcus Garrett deserves an NBA roster spot

FORT MYERS, FLORIDA - NOVEMBER 26: Marcus Garrett #0 of the Kansas Jayhawks reacts during the first half against the Gonzaga Bulldogs during the Rocket Mortgage Fort Myers Tip-Off at Suncoast Credit Union Arena on November 26, 2020 in Fort Myers, Florida. (Photo by Douglas P. DeFelice/Getty Images)
FORT MYERS, FLORIDA - NOVEMBER 26: Marcus Garrett #0 of the Kansas Jayhawks reacts during the first half against the Gonzaga Bulldogs during the Rocket Mortgage Fort Myers Tip-Off at Suncoast Credit Union Arena on November 26, 2020 in Fort Myers, Florida. (Photo by Douglas P. DeFelice/Getty Images)
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Miami Heat
Marcus Garrett #0 of the Kansas Jayhawks reacts with a teammate prior to the start of the game against the Eastern Washington Eagles (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)

Why Marcus Garrett deserves a spot on the Miami Heat: IQ

Though Marcus Garrett is a rookie, he is far more experienced than most first-year players. He spent all four years at Kansas, meaning he’ll be much more knowledgeable than a one-and-done college player.

This knowledge clearly translates to how he plays on the court. Whether he has the ball or not, Garrett is always making the smart play.

Last night’s game was the perfect example of this. He was constantly making plays to put the team in the best position possible to win.

As mentioned, Garrett grabbed 10 rebounds on the night, four of which were offensive. On all of those offensive boards, Garrett was in the right place and hustled in order to get his team an extra possession.

For a 6-5 guard, nabbing 10 rebounds is nothing to scoff at. It takes some serious basketball IQ and instincts to be able to do something like that, especially as a rookie.

In addition, Garrett plays well with the ball in his hands, too. He had three assists last night and two in the first game.

Even if it doesn’t always translate to actual assists, Garrett is always smart when he has the ball. He makes the right pass and rarely loses control.

The Miami Heat totaled 40 turnovers throughout both Summer League games. Garrett only turned the ball over once in each game.

Finding a rookie with the IQ that Garrett has is no easy feat. He would be a great addition to the depth chart for the Miami heat.