Miami Heat Coach Erik Spoelstra On The Relationship Between Tyler Herro and Devin Booker

Spoelstra speaks on the brotherhood of Kentucky players once they make the NBA

Shandel Richardson | Mar 9, 2022

In this story:

Miami Heat guard Tyler Herro and the Phoenix Suns' Devin Booker both played at Kentucky in college.

Despite Booker entering the league earlier, he still reached out to Herro. Before the teams played Wednesday night, Herro spoke of Booker being an early mentor.

“He reached out to me at Kentucky, when I was at school,” Herro said. “It might have been even in high school. So I kept our relationship with him, and early in my career I continue to model my game after him, watching what he does.”

Devin Booker and Tyler Herro have built a Kentucky bond

Devin Booker and Tyler Herro have built a Kentucky bond

Devin Booker and Tyler Herro have built a Kentucky bond

The Heat have a long connection with the Kentucky program. Bam Adebayo played there and team president Pat Riley is also a former Wildcats player. Before the game, Heat coach Erik Spoelstra spoke of the bond.

“That’s that Kentucky mafia fraternity," Spoelstra said during the pregame interviews. "I think he’s been a great mentor and resource for Tyler going back to his year in college. I can see the comparisons. I don’t like to get into the comparisons. Book is a world-class player at this point in his career. He’s helped take a team from basically the bottom of the league to the NBA Finals. He’s an Olympian and multiple-year All-Star. Tyler’s just getting going, but he’s doing some fantastic things for us. We’re really pleased with his progress, how he’s developed and he’s really learning how to impact winning on both sides of the floor.”

MORE RELATED HEAT STORIES

The latest on Victor Oladipo attempt to return. CLICK HERE

Heat getting used to playing without key players. CLICK HERE

Duncan Robinson moving up the ladder. CLICK HERE

TWITTER: @ShandelRich

Follow all of our Miami Heat coverage on Facebook here

Subscribe to our YouTube channel here

For any Heat or NBA questions, please email shandelrich@gmail.com

Published Mar 9, 2022

SHANDEL RICHARDSON

Shandel has covered the NBA since 2010, with previous stops at The Athletic and South Florida Sun-Sentinel. He has covered six NBA Finals, one Super Bowl, the NCAA basketball tournament. He has also been a beat writer for the Miami Hurricanes and contributed on every major beat in South Florida since 2003, including the Miami Dolphins and Miami Marlins. He can also be read in the Sportsbook Review for gambling coverage from around the NBA. A native of Bloomington, Illinois, Shandel attended Southern Illinois University in Carbondale. He's also worked for the St. Louis Post-Dispatch and Kansas City Star. TWITTER: @ShandelRich EMAIL: shandelrich@gmail.com You can subscribe to our YouTube channel here Follow all of our Miami Heat coverage on Facebook here