Kentucky Wildcats head coach John Calipari recently detailed a story about Tyler Herro and it perfectly summed up the situation the rookie would eventually find himself in.
Calipari coached Herro for one season at Kentucky as the guard would go on to become the 14th overall selection by the Miami Heat. Calipari highlighted one attribute that likely caught the attention of the Heat organization.
“I used to bust him down a little bit in practice, and he’d look at me like, ‘There’s nothing you can do too hard – give me more,'” Calipari said, via Dave Hyde of the Sun-Sentinel. “I’d say we’re doing extra work for March. He’d say, ‘Do more.’ He was in there every night. He was obsessed with being in a gym.”
The Heat have established themselves as an organization that commits to hard work, staying in shape and working hard off of the court.
The philosophy, led by president Pat Riley, has often been dubbed as “Heat Culture.” The team has suspended players in the past for arriving out of shape and their approach has even kept would-be free agents away.
Because of that, Calipari loved the fit for Herro.
“That’s why I said, ‘Miami’s perfect for you. You’re into basketball. That culture is perfect for you.’ And look how good it is.”
So far, so good for Herro.
The rookie guard is averaging 13.4 points, 4.4 rebounds and 2.2 assists in 38 games this season with the Heat. Herro ranks sixth in rookie scoring, fourth in total field goals (186) and first in 3-pointers made (80).
Herro has already earned the respect of many of his veteran teammates, including Jimmy Butler, who has been highly impressed with his work ethic throughout his time in Miami.
With the emergence of Herro and fellow rookie Kendrick Nunn, plus others, the Heat have the third-best record in the Eastern Conference at 27-12 so far this season.
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