Tyler Herro (Miami Heat Photo)
Former Kentucky guard Tyler Herro says getting to be on the team that practices against Team USA before the Olympics was a perfect opportunity for him to improve. He’s had two terrific seasons with the Miami Heat and knows playing against the elite players on the Olympic team will make him better.
“I think being able to scrimmage the Olympic Team was an experience that no one can take away, that you’ll just really be able to see where I’m at and where I need to be,” Herro, who will host a basketball camp in Lexington in August, said. “I’m just excited to just focus on basketball and continue to just show myself and continue to get better.”
His Miami Heat teammate, Bam Adebayo, is on Team USA and Herro says they talk constantly.
“I think I can, obviously, take a lot from it. Bam is obviously Bam and I played with him a lot, but I just think the whole Olympic Team is filled with obviously great players that are very well accomplished in this league,” Herro’s said.
“I think that I can just take away really anything from any of those guys where I got to pick their brain and soak in as much as I can.”
Herro said his year at Kentucky dramatically changed his career path.
“I think going to Kentucky has set me up for success down the line and just continue to be in the gym, continue to get better every single day — I think that stems from Kentucky, the hours that we put in at Kentucky, just continue to show,” he said.
“I’m excited to keep getting better and Kentucky was a big stepping stone for that.”
Herro averaged 13.5 points per game as a rookie when the Heat reached the NBA Finals and last season averaged 15.1 points per game. He hopes focusing on “different things” this summer will help his numbers even more next year. One point of emphasis is getting physically stronger.
“Building my foundation, whether it’s my legs and just my upper body, being able to come into more of an NBA body and really put some weight on,” he said. “I think also just being more efficient from 3 continuing to get better with my decision-making in the pick and roll. I feel like I can be much more efficient in the midrange. I’m just excited to put in all the time, all the effort in the summer and continue to get better.”
One Response
The way I have heard it reported he better dedicate his time to the gym. He wants to be a celebrity instead of a NBA star. It would be sad for him to throw it all away because his head got to big.