Tyler Herro Shares Gratitude, Appreciation for Miami Heat Legend

Jake Elman | 20 Hours Ago

Apr 9, 2023; Miami, Florida, USA; Miami Heat forward Udonis Haslem (40) looks on after entering the game during the first quarter against the Orlando Magic at Kaseya Center. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images / Sam Navarro-Imagn Images

Longtime Miami Heat captain Udonis Haslem quickly texted Tyler Herro after the team drafted him in 2019.

The training, conditioning, and practicing would come later. First, Haslem wanted to give Herro a tour of Miami’s neighborhoods. 

“We kicked it at a little spot,” Herro recently recalled on Haslem’s The OGs podcast. “He was able to keep me safe down here in Miami.”

Herro discussed his bond with Haslem on the podcast’s Jan. 7 episode. The duo spent four seasons together, with Haslem firmly entrenched as a player-coach—emphasis on coach—at that point in his career.

The Heat have long prided themselves on ‘Heat Culture,’ a feat Herro feels came partly from Haslem’s presence. 

“We’ve had highs and lows, but just having ‘OG’ there and having a voice there that can just bring us all back together,” Herro said. "We obviously greatly appreciate ‘OG’ keeping us all in.”

Haslem played only 25 games in the four seasons he spent with Herro. However, the two notably teamed up in Haslem’s final game: a 24-point, three-rebound performance in a home victory over the Orlando Magic.

Haslem said his former teammates “make it easy” for him.

“They kept me going,” Haslem admitted. “I tell people the performance that I had my last game, it was because of them.”

Haslem shared a practice where coach Erik Spoelstra told him to “be physical” with Herro. 

“I’m chasing this [expletive], I’m sweating,” Haslem said. “He’s giving me all the work, breaking my ankles, [expletive] me up.” 

“And you don’t have to do that though!” Herro rebutted. “Like as an OG, man, you won three championships, you’ve been in Miami for 20 years, but you could be at home chilling. [Instead we got to] see you come in every single day or whenever you get the chance.”

SIMMONS EXPECTS IMMINENT BUTLER TRADE

Lifelong Boston Celtics fan Bill Simmons doesn’t expect to worry about Heat forward Jimmy Butler much longer. 

Speaking on the Jan. 5 episode of The Bill Simmons Podcast, Simmons said he believes a Butler trade will happen this week. Miami suspended Butler last Friday for conduct detrimental to the team and a trade request.

Simmons predicted the San Antonio Spurs could jump into the Butler trade sweepstakes. ESPN NBA insider Shams Charania has linked Butler to the Dallas Mavericks, Golden State Warriors, Houston Rockets, and Phoenix Suns over the past month. 

According to Simmons, the Spurs have +350 odds to acquire Butler. San Antonio is 18-18, and young center Victor Wembanyama has firmly established himself as one of the NBA’s premier young players.

“They don’t have the odds for Houston, but San Antonio would have to jump the Lakers or Houston basically,” Simmons said. “The thinking is Wemby is now a top-seven guy and maybe they make a trade. So we were looking at that for future odds.”

FORMER HEAT PERSONALITY INVOLVED IN LAWSUIT

Fox Sports media personality Joy Taylor got her start working for a south Florida radio station, providing commentary on the Miami Heat, Dolphins and other local sporting teams.

Now, she is involved in a lawsuit at Fox Sports over workplace misconduct. The lawsuit was filed by Fox Sports hairstylist Noushin Faraji. It alleges Taylor made racially insensitive comments toward Faraji and had sexual relations with Fox Sports employees to advance her career.

Fox Sports addressed the allegations in a statement to Front Office Sports: “We take these allegations seriously and have no further comment at this time given this pending litigation.”

Before going national, Taylor co-hosted The Zaslow and Joy Show on 790 The Ticket. She is the younger sister of NFL Hall of Famer Jason Taylor, who spent most of his career with the Miami Dolphins.

Joy Taylor is a huge fan of the Heat. Last week she debuted a custom-made Heat jacket on the FS1 show "Speak," which also features Paul Pierce and Keyshawn Johnson. The jacket even caught the attention of Heat legend Dwyane Wade, who commented on Taylor's Instagram post with a fire emoji.

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Jake Elman works as a contributing writer to Miami Heat on SI. He can be reached at jakeelman97@gmail.com or follow him on X @JakeElman97.