Tyler Hero reveals ‘unique’ recovery from mid-training injury

MIAMI – With Miami Heat after the All-Star breaklooking to get a second wind and turn the season around, the team is about to get a huge helping hand in its comeback Tyler Herro. As rumors swirled about the return of Hero’s Heat soon, he spoke about his recovery for the first time after missing the last 15 games with a rib injury.

It was a frustrating season for Hero, as he missed 45 games with a myriad of injuries to start his All-Star season and career in 2024-25, playing in just 11 games. He sat out the first 17 games of the season with offseason ankle surgery, then would miss 13 more with a sprained toe, which would then lead to a recent issue Miami listed as a “right costochondral; rib injury.”

Hero returned to practice Thursday and was a full hitter in the session, which no doubt opens the door for a return either Friday against the Atlanta Hawks or Saturday against the Memphis Grizzlies. While he didn’t commit to returning on Friday, he told ClutchPoints that, in fact, I feel as good as I did last year.

The 26-year-old also got into how “unique” the injury was, saying he broke three ribs, and while he played three games off Torodol’s shots, easing the pain, it wasn’t the plan for the entire season.

“It was unique,” ​​Herro told ClutchPoints. “When I found out what it was, I just had to relax and let the body heal. There was nothing I could do to fix my ribs; I had three, like, broken ribs. So my ribs hurt a lot, I was just doing normal life, things I couldn’t do, so I couldn’t play basketball. I played the first three games it was cool, and that was cool, and that was cool. that until the end of the season, so it was just a matter of getting this calm things down.”

Tyler Hero speaks after returning to practice (he was a full hit) after missing the last 15 games with a rib injury. He will travel with the team, but I am not sure if he will play tomorrow.

He talked about recovery, his frustrating season, Norman Powell being an All-Star, etc. #HeatNation pic.twitter.com/FKS13kItkCE

— Zachary Weinberger (@ZachWeinberger) February 19, 2026

The Heat’s Tyler Hero is coming off an injury-riddled season

While it was injury concerns involving Herro and the Heatstar hopes to end the final 26 games on a high and healthy note, expressing that there is not much discomfort left. It was so bad that he had trouble getting out of bed, Herro noted, but it’s progressed to the point where he can “fully move” the way he needs to play basketball.

“Yeah, it was really, really frustrating,” Hero on his injury-riddled season. “Obviously, as a competitor, somebody who loves to play the game more than anything, that’s what I do. Obviously, that’s what I do for a living, but I love basketball, so it’s hard for me to sit and not be able to play. It’s never easy for me. I’m so happy to be back here, it’s been a tough year to stay and I’m trying to stay … some good basketball here together the last few months.”

It remains to be seen what Hero’s role will look like upon his return, as after spraining his toe, he played the first game without that injury off the bench to ease his way in and then ease into the starting lineup. Anyway, it is “encouraging” for Herro to return to the team, as head coach Erik Spoelstra he echoed the same sentiments.

“You’ll see how they react when we get to Atlanta,” Spoelstra said. “But it’s been very encouraging to have Tyler here at practice. You know, he’s done everything he’s needed to do in the last few weeks to prepare for this. And it’s encouraging to have him back in the mix. We’re all excited about that.”

Erik Spoelstra talks about Tyler Hero’s return to practice and how “encouraging” it was to see him gel with the team.

I wouldn’t commit to him playing tomorrow as Herro echoed earlier. #HeatNation pic.twitter.com/3f1kvK37ve

— Zachary Weinberger (@ZachWeinberger) February 19, 2026

Either way, Miami is 29-27, which puts them in eighth place in the Eastern Conference as they travel to take on the Atlanta Hawks on Friday.