One of the more underrated storylines from the early part of this Miami Heat season has been the defensive performance of Dru Smith. After suffering some of the worst injuries an athlete can endure over the course of the last two years, Smith has been etching his name into the hearts of the Heat faithful in short order.
Smith has quickly and quietly gone from a fringe roster player to one of the league's best individual defenders. After he underwent surgery for injuries to both his ACL and Achilles during the last two seasons, I don't think a lot of fans expected to see him playing at a high level for quite some time, if ever again.
As of Wednesday afternoon, Smith is registering the seventh-best defensive rating of any player in the association with a 100.8 mark. That kind of number is a testament to his discipline, perseverance, and all the hard work that he's put in to become an impact player in the best league in the world despite some truly trying circumstances.
Dru Smith has been dominating defensively
This is the kind of story that is so quintessential to what Heat culture is all about. An overlooked player who was totally written off after his injuries, and was able to rebuild and reshape his story through a hard work ethic to fit within the team's system and become a difference maker. Smith embodies everything Miami stands for as an organization: toughness, resilience, and accountability.
Through the first two weeks of the season, it has been Dru's defensive positioning, anticipation, and ability to guard in multiple spots that is what's setting him apart. He is rarely making mistakes, forcing turnovers without taking big gambles, and consistently frustrating opposing guards. The Heat's net rating spikes when he's on the floor due to how he can make opposing offenses so uncomfortable.
Coming back from not one but two major lower body injuries would serve to derail most players, but Smith's recovery story has been all about being patient and buying in to his role fully. The combination of having to retrain both an ACL and Achilles made for a tall task, particularly when it pertains to regaining lateral quickness and quick-twitch athleticism.
Dru Smith's return speaks to both his own determination as well as Miami's training staff. Heat fans always appreciate the guys on the team who truly earn their stripes, and Smith's unexpected rise is no doubt already making him a favorite at Kaseya Center.