It’s clear Miami Heat All-Star Tyler Herro is embracing his new role as the lead man of the franchise.

The first-time All-Star and lone representative of the Heat at the 2025 All-Star Game is the unquestioned main scoring option in Miami with Jimmy Butler now a member of the Golden State Warriors. The 25-year-old is considered one of the best pure scorers in the NBA, averaging a career-high 23.9 points per game and coming off a 3-Point Shooting Contest win at All-Star weekend.

“Yeah, of course, Herro says when asked if he’s noticed increased attention from defenses this season. ”I think that’s born out of respect from the other opposing coaches.”

Despite increased attention as the lead scorer and his increased usage, Herro is averaging career highs across the board in points, assists, rebounds and steals along with field goal percentage (46.5%).

With Butler now out of the fold, Herro will see the ball even more in hands, with little doubt that the ball will go through him in crunch time.

“Opposing teams putting game plans together to try to stop me, slow me down,” Herro continues to say. “I just have to continue to find ways to be effective that I can impact the game in positive ways on both sides of the ball. Also finding ways to make my teammates better to continue to make sure that they’re getting their shots, getting the ball and then making sure that they’re playing their game as well.”

The Heat aren’t anywhere close to where they want to be with the franchise being accustomed to competing for championships. At the All-Star break, Miami holds a record of 25-28, the ninth-best record in the Eastern Conference and three games behind the Detroit Pistons for the sixth spot in the East.

It’s worth noting that Miami had to deal with the Butler saga – the Heat had been shopping him on the trade block since early January – and it clearly had an effect on their play. Since Butler’s post-game presser where he announced his unhappiness with the Heat on Jan. 2 following a loss to the Indiana Pacers, Miami had gone 8-13.

It obviously doesn’t help either that the Heat went into the All-Star break with four consecutive losses, including two with newcomer and former NBA All-Star Andrew Wiggins.

Although he made comments recently that the Heat are not “contenders” at the moment, Herro doesn’t believe they’re too far off, especially when you factor in they retain a core featuring Bam Adebayo and Duncan Robinson, two key members of the 2023 Finals run team.

“I don’t think we’re far off,” says Herro. “I think continuing to get better every single day. We got a young group, a new group right now, but we’re not far off. We have to continue to work every single day, build championship habits. We’ve been there before. We just got to get back to that point.”

Tyler Herro Partnering With Raising Cane’s After Winning 3-Point Contest

The Heat star is speaking while partnering up with Raising Cane’s. Shortly after winning the 3-point shooting contest at All-Star weekend, Herro made an appearance working a “shift” at a Miami area Raising Cane’s, filming social media content, interacting with fans and serving food through the drive-thru.

The young star showed off his authentic, laid-back self during the Raising Cane’s shoot, displaying his personality and charm in the midst of Butler passing over the torch to Herro as the face of the Heat franchise.

“We need him, we want him to keep playing like that and he’s going to be here for a very long time,” “Probably much longer than me, because at what age I am. He’s probably got another 10 years here. So it’s good for him.”

Herro has an unwavering confidence that makes people and teammates gravitate towards him. His skill and individual talent is obvious, but it remains to be seen if he can lift the franchise back into title contention as the lead guy rather than just as a role player like he was during the team’s previous two Finals title runs.

“He’s confident, man,” Butler said of Herro. “You can see it. He works on his game, shows it a little bit on social. But I actually get to see it in person.”

Mac McClung – the NBA’s first-ever three-time consecutive Slam Dunk Contest champ – also worked a similar type of shift in Orlando

“I love Raising Canes,” says Herro. “This is a place I actually I came before it came to Miami. I used to eat ‘Canes all the time at Kentucky when I was in school. I waited for it to come down to South Miami or South Florida and I love it. I eat ’Canes all the time by myself. I don’t always have to come here and do like a setup like this.

“I actually come here and I eat ‘Canes on the regular,” Herro continues to say.

After becoming the fourth player in franchise history to win the 3-point shooting contest – it’s tied for the most of any NBA team, along with their hated rival, the Boston Celtics – Herro is making it clear he wants to defend his 3-point shooting crown at All-Star weekend.

“I’m going to definitely be at the 3-point contest again and try to defend the trophy,” Herro says.

However, you won’t be seeing him in any dunk contests like the high-flying McClung, which may disappoint some fans.