MIAMI (AP) — Tyler Herro’s season is off to a great start. He averaged career-bests of 22.9 points, 4.6 assists and 1.4 steals per game for the Miami Heat, shooting the 3-pointer better than ever and looking like one of the league’s best players.
He then fell on the foot of Memphis’ tight end Jaren Jackson Jr., severely spraining his ankle.
Herro’s season did not end with this play. He was nominated for NBA post-season awards.
The NBA has added and adjusted some policies this season in hopes of getting players to appear in more games and take fewer nights off. Part of the enticement to play more was adding a rule where players, in most cases, must be in 65 games to be eligible for postseason award voting. The league’s position is clear: If you can play, you better play.
But if someone is out for a few weeks due to a legitimate injury, they are also out of the award mix. Herro said he’s not ready to play yet, meaning Chicago’s game at Miami on Saturday will be the 18th game he’s missed this season — officially meaning he won’t reach the 65-game minimum.
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“I don’t know what the right thing to do is,” Chicago coach Billy Donovan said. “I see both sides of it. But the other thing is if you have a player who is healthy and plays 70, 75 or 80 games, those players should also be rewarded for their ability to endure a long season.”
Herro was one of the players to speak out in support of the league’s push to get players more visible this season. His stance remained unchanged, although an ankle injury ended his hopes of winning the award.
“I’m OK with that,” Herro said this week.
The 65-game rule (it can be fewer in limited cases) is part of the new collective bargaining agreement that went into effect this summer and determines whether players are eligible for things like MVP, All-NBA team, or Defensive Player of the Year awards. of the Year, All-Defensive Team, or Most Improved Player. The league also agreed to terms of its player participation policy in September, which focuses primarily on star players — anyone who has been an All-Star or on an All-NBA team in any of the previous three seasons.
The league did not like the look of star players resting, especially in nationally televised games.
“It’s not just coming from the league office. I think whether it’s our teams or the Players Association or individual players, I think there’s recognition across the league that we need to get back to that principle, which is that this is an 82-game league. “That, of course. , does not mean that we are turning back the clock, or that players are expected to play while injured, or that players, frankly, never need to rest.
“But I think there’s a statement of principle that if you’re a healthy player in this league, the expectation is that you’re going to play.”
It’s not just Herro, who is at a club that sees its trophy hopes dashed by injury at the start of the season. Portland’s Anfernee Simmons is averaging 24.6 points, but he missed 18 games with a torn thumb ligament — so he’s also already certain not to play in 65 games.
Among the big names who missed a lot of time and can’t miss more: Phoenix’s Devin Booker (28.1 ppg, missed nine games), Charlotte’s LaMelo Ball (24.7 ppg, will miss Game 8 on Friday) and Terry Rozier ( 23.9 ppg, missed nine games), Utah’s Lauri Markkanen (23.7 ppg, missed nine games), Brooklyn’s Cam Thomas (23.4 ppg, missed nine games), Dallas’ Kyrie Irving (23 pts). In., missed seven games), Miami Defensive Player of the Year. Bam Adebayo (22.3 ppg, missed nine games), New Orleans’ CJ McCollum (20 ppg, missed 13 games) and Denver’s Jamal Murray (18.3 ppg, missed 14 games).
“It’s unfortunate that that’s the case,” Miami guard Duncan Robinson said. “But I kind of understand that. There has to be a line somewhere.”
Charlotte coach Steve Clifford remembers his days as an assistant with the New York Knicks when the team had what he called a durability scheme: Players would get a point for a game, a point for practice, and a point for shootouts. If any of them are missing, the total returns to zero.
“These people will be upset if they miss something,” Clifford said. “People, they pay a lot of money. Some people only attend one or two games a year. They choose games in the summer. Listen, without the players, coaches wouldn’t have this great life. Without the fans, none of us would. I think it’s fair, in My opinion is, we all expect players to go out there and play – unless they get injured.
Herro hopes to return to the Heat lineup in the next few days. Little did he know at the time he was injured that it would cost him so many games, and he was hoping to be in the mix for the rewards this season.
He has already come to terms with reality.
“Next year then,” Hiro said. “Or the year after that.”
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The NBA season is a grueling and highly competitive time for players, and unfortunately, for some, an early-season injury can completely derail their chances of earning postseason accolades. With so much at stake, from individual awards to team success, these injuries can be devastating for players who are striving to make an impact on the court. Whether it be for MVP consideration, All-NBA team selections, or even championship aspirations, the impact of an early-season injury can be felt throughout the entire league.