Bam Adebayo came to the defense of Tyler Herro after a dominant performance against the LA Lakers on Wednesday, where Herro dropped 31 points, making 9 of his 16 three-pointers in a 134-93 victory at the Kaseya Center. Adebayo called out the media for their ongoing criticism of Herro, who had faced heavy scrutiny earlier in the season due to inconsistent performances, especially with Jimmy Butler missing games due to injury. Adebayo emphasized that Herro’s strong showing was a direct response to those doubts, stating that this was “his moment right now” to silence the critics.
Herro had been under fire for a slump that had seen his scoring drop off after a hot start to the 2024-25 season, during which he averaged 24.9 points on 50.9% shooting. However, his recent explosion against the Lakers, where he was instrumental in dismantling LA’s defense, showcased his scoring abilities once again. The Heat also saw strong performances from Jimmy Butler (17 points) and Terry Rozier (16 points), while Adebayo contributed 14 points.
Before the game, Jimmy Butler had also praised Herro’s scoring ability, acknowledging him as one of the team’s best scorers and highlighting his impressive ability to score from all areas of the floor. Butler’s confidence in Herro suggests that the guard has the potential to remain a key contributor for the Heat, and if he continues his strong play, he could even make his first All-Star appearance.
For now, Adebayo’s defense of Herro underscores the importance of patience, as the guard looks to build on his breakout performance and prove that his earlier struggles were only temporary.
