Confidence is one of the pillars to success in the NBA and Tyler Herro has never lacked for it.

Herro’s game and demeanor are what endeared him to the Miami Heat, who selected him with the 13th overall pick in the 2019 NBA Draft. His profile was lifted with the breakout performances he had in the 2020 NBA Playoffs and his ability to light it up even in the biggest of stages despite being a rookie.

Just recently, the Heat signed Herro to a four-year, $120-million extension that can go to as high as $130 million depending on whether he can hit certain incentives. Herro has been integral to Miami’s plans and will continue to be such given how they’ve locked him up long-term. Together with Bam Adebayo, Jimmy Butler, and Duncan Robinson, Herro forms part of a championship contending core for the Heat for years to come.

In a nutshell, the contract was a way of rewarding the former Kentucky Wildcat for what he has done and what he should do moving forward. Scoring has first and foremost been what Herro has brought to the table and he has managed to raise his scoring average over the last three seasons. What he does to get his points, which is through a combination of the midrange jumper, 3-point shot, and some nifty drives, hasn’t really changed, but the evolution is evident in how he utilizes those to get buckets and wins for Miami.

The 22-year old’s best year came in this most recent season, where aside from averaging slightly more than 20 points per game, Herro has continued to take on the role of big-time shotmaker for the Heat. All of it culminated with him being the first member of the Heat to be named the 2022 NBA Sixth Man of the Year.

Herro’s scoring has opened up the rest of his game, as it has helped him create plays for others and allowed him to create from the halfcourt or in transition. The rest of Miami can play off him knowing they can maximize how defenses view the Wisconsin native and Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra knows he can mix up his approach by either letting Herro play on or off the ball.

Miami can also make the most out of his energy and devote some of that to the defensive end. Teams have had the tendency of attacking Herro on defense and how he fares on that end could also determine whether or not he would spend some crucial moments on the bench.

Consistency, though, would perhaps be the biggest area Herro would need to work on, considering how it affects the other aspects of his game. There will be off nights in the 2022-2023 NBA Season and beyond, but what would be more crucial is how he responds to it. Will Herro find other ways to contribute when his shot is not falling? Which Herro will show up in the postseason? These are just some of the questions which he will have to answer for not just because of the extension he agreed to, but also because of some past observations.

Robinson serves as a cautionary tale for Herro considering how both are close to one another in terms of where their careers are. After signing a five-year, $90 million contract in 2021, Robinson proceeded to have his lowest points per game and worst shooting figures (39.9 percent field goal shooting and 37.2 percent 3-point shooting) since his rookie year. Of course, Robinson could bounce back this season and Herro does more for the Heat than Robinson, but how one performs after an extension takes on a whole different meeting with the added context.

Tyler Herro’s NBA career has been defined by his tenacity in taking (and making) shots. The Miami Heat are taking their shot by signing Herro to a sizable extension with a year left in his rookie deal and the succeeding seasons should see how the faith of one would be repaid by the resolve of the other.