Taking over previous legends’ legacy will always be a tough task. When Dwyane Wade retired after the 2018-19 season, there was a huge gap left that till today is felt by the Miami fans. However, in 2019, the franchise drafted another two-way guard, also a first-round pick, attempting to make up. Tyler Herro, now in his 6th season, wants to bring a championship soon enough for the loyal fans. In fact, he wants to leave a positive impact behind, just like the 3x NBA Champion did.

“All I see is, I’m talking about from the wealthiest person in the city to the least wealthy. They all got a D Wade Jersey. I need the same influence in this city as D Wade. Obviously, not as much because of how much he’s done. And this is Wade County at the end of the day,” Herro said to the co-host Udonis Haslem on his podcast. That’s when UD chimed in, “Somebody always set the standard, but somebody always come along and surpass it.”

Born in Chicago, Dwyane Wade yet received so much love from the Heat nation. He would bring the city its first-ever championship in 2006 and then two more as a part of the Heat’s Big 3. Unselfish, fiercely competitive, and putting up big numbers, the Flash had won over; enough for Pat Riely to call him the ‘most respected, admired professional athlete in the state.’ Now Herro wants to assume a similar role, something he has thought of since he was drafted.

“No, but I used to walk around when I was 19, 20 in Miami. I’m like, bro, I want to make sure everyone in this city has a Herro jersey by the time it’s done,” the 2022 Sixth Man of the Year said on The OGs podcast.

In his very first season, Herro helped the team reach the NBA finals stage. At just 20 years old, he scored a 37-point performance in Game 4. In the process, he overtook the Miami Heat rookie record for points in a playoff game previously set by Dwyane Wade with 27. He is indeed making a mark.

Dwyane Wade had high praise for Herro

Those performances were just a glimpse of what the Kentucky Alum had the potential of. After the 2019-20 rookie season, he would make the All-NBA Rookie second team and in 2022, win the Sixth Man of the Year honor. That also made him the first player in the franchise to win that accolade. And it hasn’t gone unnoticed by D-Wade.

“He’s Special!” Dwyane Wade tweeted after Herro had broken his record. Additionally, he gave a shout-out to his hooping abilities. “What I love about what Herro Ball is doing… We all know this isn’t just a hot game. This is how he plays the game of basketball.” Previously too, Dwyane Wade was impressed by the 24-year-old’s abilities. “Obviously he’s going to get a tag of being a shooter because he looks a certain way. But he’s not; he’s a basketball player. He makes plays. He plays very well off the dribble.”

As the respect remains mutual, Herro needs to bring another championship to the franchise, which Dwyane Wade was able to bring in just his third season. But could the current Jimmy Butler trade rumors deteriorate plans for Herro?