Tyler Herro, after overcoming doubts and trade speculation, is experiencing a breakout season highlighted by his first NBA All-Star selection. He is now on the brink of surpassing LeBron James’ Miami Heat franchise scoring record, a remarkable milestone expected during the upcoming season.
Brendan Tobin, on the Tobin Show, provided an in-depth analysis of Herro’s pursuit of the franchise scoring lead. He outlined how Herro’s performance and game availability put him in a strong position to eclipse the scoring total set by James during his four years in Miami.
Career Trajectory and Games Played Fuel Herro’s Scoring Potential
According to Tobin, Herro currently has 6,987 career points and needs 932 more to match LeBron James’ Miami Heat scoring tally. Tobin explained that as long as Herro participates in roughly 55 games this season, surpassing James is practically guaranteed.
Herro’s durability has been a key factor in his success. Last season, he achieved a career-high by playing in 77 games, an impressive feat during an era when many star players are managed with limited minutes to preserve health. This level of availability has boosted optimism among Heat fans and franchise executives alike about his future role.
“I’m going to start off with Herro because Tyler Herro is going to go into this year, and for those who don’t know, he is at 6,987 career points,”
Tobin said.
“So he is 932 points away from matching LeBron James. Based on Tyler Herro’s repertoire of seasons, as long as Tyler Herro plays about 55 games this year, it’s pretty hard to imagine that he would not eclipse that mark.”
—Brendan Tobin, Show Host
Over previous seasons where Herro played significant minutes, he has been a consistent scorer, averaging around 1,300 points in multiple years and exceeding 1,800 points in his best campaign. This scoring consistency supports Tobin’s projection that Herro is likely to finish the upcoming season ahead of LeBron James’ Miami Heat total.
“In the other years, where he’s actually played a good chunk of games, where he would have qualified for awards, these are the years he played 66, 67, and 77 games,”
Tobin continued.
“He’s been about 1300 points, 1300 points, and then 1800 points in change over all those years. Which would mean, Tyler Herro is likely going to finish this year ahead of LeBron James.”
—Brendan Tobin, Show Host
Concerns Raised Over Lakers’ Center Position Impacting LeBron James’ New Team
While Tyler Herro is making headlines in Miami, attention has also been drawn to LeBron James’ new team, the Los Angeles Lakers, and their struggles with center depth. Following a strong defensive display by Rudy Gobert in the first round of the playoffs, the Lakers identified a need for a more effective supporting big man alongside James and Luka Doncic.
The acquisition of Deandre Ayton aimed to address this need, yet Miami Heat legend Udonis Haslem voiced skepticism about how well Ayton’s style of play will integrate with the Lakers’ star perimeter players. Haslem emphasized that Ayton’s tendency to settle for pull-up shots rather than aggressively rolling to the basket could limit the team’s offensive cohesion.
“Even if you want to put him in the dunker when Luka has the ball up top, you need a roll-big that’s going to be a lob threat,”
Haslem said.
“Deandre Ayton has the size, but that’s not necessarily his game. He wants to get to his spots. He wants to make his moves. He wants to pull up like he left his phone. You have to roll your (expletive) to the basket when playing with those boys.”
—Udonis Haslem, Miami Heat Legend
Haslem noted that while Ayton had formerly been considered one of the NBA’s top centers, particularly during his time with the Phoenix Suns, he needs to rekindle the same energy and adapt his style to maximize his impact with the Lakers’ dynamic backcourt.
“Listen, the ball is going to be in Luka’s hands, the ball is going to be in Bron’s hands, and Austin Reaves,”
Haslem added.
“We are not throwing you the ball in the post to go to work. It’s not a part of the game plan. So, as much as I like the fact that they got size because they needed size, I just don’t know if that’s the one. Can Deadre Ayton be a guy who can roll to the basket and catch lobs? Yes, he can. But does he have the drive to do that?”
—Udonis Haslem, Miami Heat Legend
Implications for the Miami Heat and NBA Landscape
Tyler Herro’s climb toward breaking LeBron James’ Miami Heat scoring record represents a major turning point for the franchise, signaling the rise of a new generation of contributors capable of carrying the team forward. Herro’s combination of scoring ability and durability positions him as a cornerstone for the Heat’s future success.
Simultaneously, the challenges faced by LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers in integrating new personnel like Deandre Ayton highlight the complexities teams encounter when attempting to build around superstar talent. The Lakers’ ability to maximize Ayton’s strengths while integrating James and Doncic will affect their competitiveness this season.
As the new NBA season unfolds, all eyes will remain on Herro’s historic push to eclipse a record held by James, while also monitoring how the Lakers address their roster composition to support their championship ambitions. Miami fans and analysts alike are eager to see how these storylines develop and influence the league’s balance of power in the near term.