The flashes of star potential that Tyler Herro showed crystalized in the 2021-22 season. He became a crucial piece for the top-seeded Miami Heat by averaging career-highs and establishing himself as a monster scorer off the bench. Now, he is helping the Heat make a deep NBA playoffs run again.

A season like this seemed imminent for Herro after his rookie season, but not after last season, his second in the NBA. He struggled and suffered numerous injuries on top of being included in trade rumors around James Harden. After establishing himself as the future of the team, he looked destined to be the centerpiece of a trade package.

Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra dropped a truth bomb on Herro after the season, according to Israel Gutierrez of ESPN. He explained that not everything will work out perfectly and that injuries and bumps in the road are normal, especially for youngsters.

“I just wanted him to understand that, the year before, [was] super unusual for a young rookie to basically have a full year where everything was going like this [up], drama-free where it's just like a honeymoon,” Spoelstra says. “It was more from the standpoint of, ‘Look, this is what a normal path is for young guys, these struggles. Playing really well, not playing well, then getting hurt. Embrace it. This is the league. This is what it's like to be a young guy.'

“Last year was the aberration, not this year.”

Herro has always been one to overcome adversity. He received death threats as a teenager and worked his way into being a fringe star at the NBA level with the Heat. The message from Spoelstra was daunting, but Tyler Herro thrives under such conditions.