Miami Heat star Jimmy Butler loves rookie teammate Tyler Herro.

Despite being a rookie, Herro doesn’t act or play like one. He has that killer mentality the Heat love and it has been on display from Day 1.

In a interview with SLAM Magazine, Bam Adebayo said the Heat made Herro guard Butler on the first day of practice to throw him in the fire. Herro, as expected, welcomed the challenge, which is why Butler and the youngster have formed a special bond.

“We got a lot in common, to tell you the truth,” Butler said of Herro, via the Miami Herald. “But more than anything, I just respect the way that he works and the way that he carries himself.

“It’s not when I met him, it’s what everybody else had said about him. If you constantly have people in this organization saying, ‘This kid, he works. He’s going to be good. A tough little son of a gun.’ I was like, ‘OK, let’s see.’ Then whenever we meet, it is that. He’s like, ‘Yo, let’s get in the gym, let’s get in the gym, let’s get in the gym.’ I’m like, ‘I’m with it.’ You’ll never hear me complain about not working. Ever since then, I’m happy for him, I’m proud of him and I want him to be the best player he can possibly be.”

Herro is putting up 14.5 points, 4.0 rebounds and 2.0 assists per game on the season. He’s shooting 44.8 percent from the field, 39.2 percent from beyond the arc and 83.0 percent from the free-throw line.

With Butler leading the way, the Heat are well on their way to making the playoffs after missing it last season. Jimmy is putting up 20.6 points, 6.3 rebounds and 6.8 assists for the Heat, who are 17-6.