How is Heat rookie Omer Yurtseven preparing for his opportunity? ‘A lot of extra work’
Center Omer Yurtseven has played in 16 of the Miami Heat’s first 25 games and logged double-digit minutes in just three games, but he hasn’t had many off days during his rookie season.
“I haven’t had an off day in about three weeks,” Yurtseven said ahead of the Heat’s matchup against the Milwaukee Bucks on Wednesday night at FTX Arena. “One day for Thanksgiving and that’s it. That’s when we were in Chicago and I couldn’t get in the gym. But other than that, I haven’t had an off day.”
Through on-court work with Heat assistant coach Malik Allen and his own trainer Ben Bellucci, Yurtseven has tried to fast track his development behind the scenes. There have also been conditioning and strength sessions before and after games to prepare his body for NBA minutes.
“It has just been a lot of extra work,” Yurtseven said. “It’s the weight room, it’s the conditioning, it’s extra reps in the gym. On game days when I know all the starters are here and I might not get many minutes, that’s when I’ll up the sets and up the weight and just go harder. After the games when I don’t play, that will be the time when I’ll get some conditioning and cardio in to stay ready.”
But Yurtseven, 23, has been playing a lot more lately with starting center Bam Adebayo unavailable because of a torn ulnar collateral ligament in his right thumb that’s expected to keep him out until mid-January. Without Adebayo, Yurtseven played double-digit minutes in three consecutive games entering Wednesday’s contest against the Bucks.
The Heat has started Dewayne Dedmon in Adebayo’s place while he has been out. But Miami has used a combination of Yurtseven, Udonis Haslem, KZ Okpala and even played starting power forward P.J. Tucker at center to complete the power rotation during the non-Dedmon minutes.
“He has been fully immersed into the Miami Heat development program, and that’s what I’m talking about,” Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said of Yurtseven. “Nobody gets to see that so you don’t get to see a young player’s progress. Our staff has seen it. The players have seen it.
“It’s tough sometimes for a young player in this league on a team that has high aspirations to prepare, to earn the trust of veteran players, earn the trust of a staff, and the best way to do that is just to always be in there working and letting everybody know that you’re preparing for those moments and that’s what he has been doing. You can see his skill set. It is unique. He has great touch. He has great feel around the basket and he’s big.”
Yurtseven (6-11, 275) has flashed his potential during the first week of Adebayo’s absence. He entered Wednesday with 24 points on 10-of-21 shooting, 15 rebounds, four assists and six blocks in 63 minutes over his last four appearances since Adebayo went out.
Yurtseven’s best performance came in Friday’s road win against the Indiana Pacers, when he totaled a season-high 12 points on 6-of-8 shooting, five rebounds and two blocks in 19 minutes. His polished offensive game was on display, as he hit two jumpers, converted on an alley-oop, tipped one in and made three layups while scoring all 12 of his points from inside the paint.
“Omer has been working, just waiting for his time and I think when he got a chance and he got some reps, he showed what he can do,” Heat veteran guard Kyle Lowry said.
Yurtseven was one of the go-to offensive options in summer league, but he’s a secondary offensive option on the Heat even with Adebayo and Jimmy Butler unavailable. Lowry’s goal as a point guard when playing with Yurtseven is “don’t put him in a position where he’s going to be unsuccessful.”
“I think it all kind of works out organically,” Yurtseven said of finding his place in the Heat’s offense. “We have great point guards that facilitate. Lowry, he knows how to get guys in good spots, and he’s taking that veteran leadership role. I’m really grateful that he’s on the team to be that guy. But I would say, just being in the flow of the offense and letting guys like him and P.J. [Tucker] dictate where our offense is going and being ready whenever that flow comes to you and you’re in a position to score.”
Yurtseven, who signed a two-year minimum deal with the Heat this past offseason, is still learning the nuances of playing defense in the NBA. But he noted that daily film sessions have helped him.
“I’ve kind of understood where my spots are and how I can contribute to the team and what I’m required to do to help out the most,” he said. “Understanding that role has been the biggest adjustment.”
EARLY START TO AWARD SEASON
Haslem, a Miami native, was named the male 2021 Hometown Hero on Tuesday night at the 2021 Sports Illustrated Awards. Candace Parker was honored as the female 2021 Hometown Hero.
In addition, Heat guard Tyler Herro was named Sports Illustrated’s Best Dressed.
A few other Heat players attended the award show at Hard Rock Live at Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Hollywood to support their teammates.
▪ The NBA announced Wednesday that All-Star voting will begin on Dec. 25 at 11 a.m. and conclude on Jan. 22 at midnight.
The Heat did not have a player in last season’s All-Star Game, but Adebayo and Butler represented the organization in the 2020 All-Star Game.
The 2022 All-Star Game will take place on Feb. 20 in Cleveland.
INJURY REPORT
The Heat will be without Adebayo (torn UCL in right thumb), Butler (tail bone contusion), Marcus Garrett (G League), Markieff Morris (whiplash) and Victor Oladipo (right knee injury recovery) on Wednesday against the Bucks.
The Bucks have ruled out Donte DiVincenzo (left ankle injury recovery), Brook Lopez (back surgery) and Semi Ojeleye (right calf strain).
This story was originally published December 8, 2021 at 1:50 PM.
