Tyler Herro’s skills on the court have nothing to do with why the Heat need him back in the lineup, according to NBA on TNT commentator Stan Van Gundy.
Herro — who’s been sidelined since Game 1 of the first round with a broken right hand — and his outfit caught Van Gundy’s attention during Miami’s 116-99 Game 4 loss to the Celtics in the Eastern Conference Finals on Tuesday.
The league’s Sixth man of the Year in 2022 sported a striped matching jacket and pants set, paired with a purple bucket hat by Palm Angels while on the bench at Kaseya Center.
“You know the No. 1 reason the Heat need Tyler Herro back?” Van Gundy asked Reggie Miller on the broadcast. “Because his fashion is so bad on the bench. We need him in uniform.
“And for me to be commenting on anybody else’s fashion is probably,” Van Gundy said before Kevin Harlan chimed in with: “You took the words right out of Tyler’s mouth.”
Van Gundy agreed, adding, “He’s looking at me going, ‘wait, you are going to comment on me?'”
Meanwhile, Miller jokingly made sure to mention that Van Gundy was the one who critiqued Herro’s fashion sense.
All three broadcasters had good laugh at Van Gundy’s banter.
Herro, who’s known for his eccentric fashion choices, wore a similar ensemble in the Heat’s 128-102 Game 3 win on Sunday.
The 23-year-old donned a black bucket hat, and paired a leather button-up shirt with patterned pants.
Herro, who averaged 20 points per game during the regular season, has been cleared to resume basketball activities, coach Erik Spoelstra said Tuesday.
“He’s starting the process,” he said, adding that Herro can begin dribbling and shooting work.
It is unclear when the guard can take physical contact, and Spoelstra added that there is no timetable for Herro’s return to the lineup.
Herro underwent surgery on April 21, and was expected to miss at least six weeks — with June 2 as the sixth-week mark.
Game 1 of the NBA Finals is scheduled for June 1.
In Herro’s absence, the Heat have utilized Max Strus in the starting lineup, with Duncan Robinson off the bench.
If Herro were to return it would likely be in a bench role, according to The Athletic, while a separate report by UnderDog NBA said he is unlikely to return for the finals.
The Celtics avoided a series sweep to keep their season alive in Game 4 of the conference finals on Tuesday.
Game 5 shifts back to Boston on Thursday.
