The thing about Tyler Herro only diehard Heat fans appreciate

Entering the 2024-25 season, Tyler Herro seemed locked in from the start. He wasted no time making strides in his development, while quickly becoming a top option for the Miami Heat offensively. 

The availability issues of Jimmy Butler, that would turn into a trade request and sloppy divorce, paved a way for Herro to have more responsibility. 

He seized that opportunity, putting up career-high’s almost entirely across the board. The biggest improvement in Herro’s game came from his efficiency splits, and it turned him into a much better player.

Herro adjusted his shot diet to feature more of high quality looks, including a higher volume of 3-point shots and drives at the rim. He also came into the new campaign wanting to be an improved defender. And he looked better in that department as well— getting into passing lanes and being more engaged in individual matchups.

All of this has led to Herro’s breakout year, in which he secured his first-time All-Star honors and would be crowned the NBA’s 3-point Champion at All-Star weekend. 

It’s easy to pinpoint the scoring and efficiency production, but there’s another rising statistic in his game that has made him a better player. 

Tyler Herro leads the Miami Heat in total assists and assists per game during the 2024-25 season.

Herro’s playmaking skills are slowly but surely developing into elite capabilities. He has seen a gradual increase in his assist numbers throughout his six-year Heat tenure. This season, he is looking at a career-best 5.7 assists per game. 

The 25 year-old guard demands so much attention from opposing teams. If the shot isn’t falling, it’s always valuable to know that Herro can still control the game in other areas.

The numbers aren’t eye popping yet, but his career arc has displayed improvement in his playmaking as each season has gone by. Sooner or later, Herro will be around six or seven assists and inching closer to the double-digits.

This will be crucial for the success of his teammates and getting them involved, especially big men Bam Adebayo and Kel’el Ware to be recipients of those alley oop passes. 

Despite dealing with plenty of unfortunate injury issues over the years, the talent of Herro has never been doubted. He is capable of growing into a real star in Miami for years to come. And the next major decision on that is on the horizon.

It will be crucial for Herro’s gradual improvements to keep going in the near future. Luckily, he has grown into a more well rounded offensive player with his playmaking to supplement the shooting numbers.