Perhaps the second-most exciting development from the NBA finals game on Oct. 4 - with the first-most exciting development being the Heat’s victory led by a historic performance from small forward Jimmy Butler - was the introduction of one single facial expression. As ferocious and mighty as a miniature corgi puppy who thinks he’s mean, shooting guard Tyler Herro emerged from sinking a layup for the Heat at the end of the game with a tiny snarl.
It was pretty adorable. Nobody thinks you’re scary, little baby Herro. Sportswriter Shea Serrano said it best when he excitedly described the event as the “TYLER HERRO BABY SNARRL” on Twitter.
Even Herro’s best friend and mentor, Butler, noticed the 20-year-old’s attempt at an intimidating face. “I saw it,” Butler said. “He did that thing with his lip. I saw that.”
Herro’s baby snarl has the same energy as Peter Parker’s tough talk during that one scene from Captain America: Civil War in which he goes up against two grown men despite being 16-years-old. At least he’s got the confidence.
Behind that confidence, though, is some serious skill that has been doubted from the moment the Heat drafted Herro. Butler has confirmed that much and, despite having a reputation for placing enormous pressure on his teammates, seems to feel that Herro deserves the confidence he exudes.
"Obviously, he's a rookie,” Butler said. “But I tell you, whenever he's out there on the floor, the swag that he plays with, the moves that he makes, you'd think he's been in the league for 10-plus [years].”
Herro has the flexibility and range to hit three-point shots for the Heat on a consistent basis. He’s a good size for the shooting guard position: 6 feet 6 inches and lean. Countless games have proven Herro’s ability to guard several positions at once and sets his aggression loose when the risk is high. He also maintains his college status as a solid rebounder, especially enhanced by his talent for predicting the direction that the ball will fall off the rim.
According to Butler, skill isn’t the only thing that drives Herro’s ambition on the court. One motivation that might be behind Herro’s drive is his younger brothers, Myles and Austin.
“I’ll talk more to Myles … more than I will to Tyler because I think [Myles] is the reason that Tyler plays like that,” Butler said. “[Tyler] understands that [Myles] looks up to Tyler, and so Tyler goes out there and plays with so much confidence because he knows that his brother is watching.”
As with any player, Herro is not without flaws. His disadvantage, some say, begins with the fact that he is the youngest player to ever start in the NBA Finals. Herro is an especially young rookie on the court, which speaks to his level of experience and skill.
Compared to the average NBA player, Herro has a relatively small wingspan—about 6 feet 3 inches—even though most players’ wingspans are around 6 feet 9 inches. This is referred to as a “negative wingspan” because Herro’s combined arm-length is shorter than his overall height. Herro is at a disadvantage when dealing with high release points.
Herro has also been criticized for his lack of athleticism or inability to jump higher than his opponents. Without a strong mental focus and the deliberate increase of his vertical, Herro will continue to struggle in this area.
Regardless, it’s difficult to imagine a world where Tyler Herro doesn’t have the swagger of a Spartan warrior. Even if he’s every Heat fan’s delicate baby angel, Herro has earned the bravado and conviction with which he plays.