Herro had nice things to say about Heat and Miami. So why the fight with Adebayo?
Just minutes before news surfaced of an altercation between former Miami Heat teammates Tyler Herro and Bam Adebayo, Herro spoke in glowing terms about the Heat organization and the city of Miami.
“Never,” Herro told two South Florida newspapers, including the Miami Herald, on Friday afternoon when asked whether he holds any ill will toward the Heat after being traded to the Milwaukee Bucks this offseason.
“They drafted me from Kentucky, and they gave me a platform. They gave me an opportunity. They believed in me, and it was a great seven years. Not many guys in my draft class are still on their teams or anything like that. So, again, I’m just excited and appreciative for everything that’s kind of happened and transpired.”
But hours before Herro watched the Heat blow out the Bucks 119-86 in the Las Vegas Summer League opener for both teams on Friday afternoon from his courtside seat at UNLV’s Thomas & Mack Center, he was involved in an altercation with Adebayo at a practice court set up outside of Resorts World Las Vegas on Friday morning.
A league source confirmed there was an altercation between Adebayo and Herro, who spent the last seven seasons together as Heat teammates. Adebayo and Herro were viewed as the Heat’s top two leaders this past season, with Adebayo holding the title of team captain and Herro gaining trust because of his on-court accomplishments and relatively long tenure in Miami.
“My only comment is no comment,” Herro said later on when asked about the incident while on his way out of Thomas & Mack Center.
ESPN’s Shams Charania reported that the altercation started “when Adebayo approached Herro about comments the guard made critiquing the center on social media after their seven-year run in Miami ended.”
According to The Athletic, the incident took place “in front of an AAU team run by Herro” when “Adebayo walked onto the courts and Herro said something to him. Adebayo approached Herro and, without hesitation, punched him. Herro’s AAU coach confronted Adebayo, and Herro yelled at his former teammate while being escorted out by security personnel. Both players left the scene on their own.”
The Heat and Bucks’ summer league teams are both practicing at Resorts World Las Vegas, which led to Adebayo and Herro running into each other on Friday morning.
“We are aware and not commenting,” a Heat spokesperson said of the incident.
It’s unclear if any legal charges will be filed because of the incident. It’s also unclear if any team or league-issued punishment for either player could come from this.
“I was anticipating this’
The drama comes after Herro was traded to the Bucks as part of a package to acquire two-time NBA MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo and veteran forward Bobby Portis in a deal agreed to in late June and finalized on Monday.
In an interview with two South Florida beat reporters on Friday before news of the altercation with Adebayo became public, Herro said he anticipated the trade.
“I saw it coming,” Herro said. “If any summer, it was going to be this summer, so I was anticipating this. And obviously not knowing Milwaukee, but I kind of figured I was going to get traded this summer. I’m excited and happy it’s Milwaukee.”
Herro was involved in plenty of trade speculation throughout his seven seasons with the Heat. Whether it was for Damian Lillard, Kevin Durant, James Harden or Antetokounmpo, Herro was essentially part of trade rumors during every offseason of his Heat tenure.
“That’s part of it,” Herro said. “I think, I’m sure there will still be rumors in Miami somewhere for someone. I’ve said it though, Miami is an organization that wants to win championships and they want to compete. We’ve obviously almost got there, and we’ve had years where we’ve lost in the first round, we’ve had years where we didn’t make the playoffs. So it’s like, I’ve been through every ending of the season. And it makes sense for them to want to get a fresh start, get someone like Giannis and build from there. So, it’s understandable.”
Herro, 26, spent the first seven seasons of his NBA career with the Heat before being traded to his hometown of Milwaukee this offseason. Herro was drafted by Miami with the 13th overall pick in 2019.
Along the way, Herro became the first Heat player to be named the NBA’s Sixth Man of the Year when he won the award for the 2021-22 season. He also was selected for the NBA All-Star Game in 2025.
Herro averaged 19.5 points, five rebounds and 4.1 assists per game while shooting 45% from the field and 38.2% on threes in 394 regular-season appearances (245 starts) during his Heat career. He ranks sixth in Heat history in all-time points scored (7,664 points) and second in all-time three-pointers made (1,068 threes).
Herro was on a $31 million salary with the Heat last season. He was eligible to receive an extension from the Heat last offseason, but an offer from Miami never came.
‘I’ve never got hate in the city ever’
Herro told the two South Florida newspapers before Friday’s altercation became national headlines that he does think he was appreciated and respected in Miami.
“You know what? I think so,” Herro said. “Because if you, like, I’m on Twitter, but if you take away Twitter, I’ve never got hate in the city ever. I’ve been in Miami seven years. Every time I go out in public, people ask me for pictures. People, like, they’re cool to me. No one’s ever hated on me in the city that I’ve witnessed or been a part of. Obviously, they’ll talk and do the things on Twitter, but that’s Twitter. I feel appreciated by the people that matter.”
Ironically, the comments that evidently angered Adebayo stem from screenshots of an Instagram direct message conversation shared on X in recent days that show a profile seemingly run by Herro showing some resentment toward Adebayo.
“Why are Heat fans so worried about me and what I do? But I’m not the best player on the team right?” the account that appears to belong to Herro wrote.
“I didn’t say any names. I’m just saying, should an elite defender be making 60 million a year? Answer that.”
The account also wrote: “You should get paid 60 million to be a top tier defender on some nights? I’m just wondering.”
Adebayo was the Heat’s highest paid player last season and is due $49.5 million this season. He has been named to an NBA All-Defensive team across six different seasons.
On Instagram last week, Herro also posted a graphic listing the league’s worst midrange shooters last season. Antetokounmpo was listed as the worst at 26.8% and Adebayo was listed as the 10th-worst at 35.9%.
Asked about his social-media posts, Herro said earlier during his interview on Friday: “You’ve seen it.”
Asked about what to make of those social media posts, Herro added, “I don’t know.”
‘I appreciate Miami’
While Herro sat courtside for Friday’s summer league matchup between the Heat and Bucks, Adebayo was not in attendance. Herro did not appear to have any visible mark on his face from Adebayo’s reported punch.
All the while, Herro has not lost his love for Miami or the Heat. During Adebayo and Herro’s seven seasons as teammates, the Heat played in two NBA Finals and three Eastern Conference finals but never won an NBA title.
“I mean, they drafted a 6-5 white kid with a 6-3 wingspan,” Herro said Friday prior to the altercation becoming public. “If y’all would have said that I was going to be an All-Star and average 20 a game for five straight seasons, people probably would have been like, no way, right? They wouldn’t believe it. So, I feel like I’ve done enough. Obviously, we didn’t win the championship, but we competed. We almost climbed to the top of the mountain in different particular years.
“And, again, I appreciate Miami. I appreciate my time there. And I would be open at some point to end my career there, but it would just have to make sense.”
Herro even plans to continue to make Miami his home. Herro’s two children will remain in Miami despite his trade to Milwaukee.
“I’m going to probably live in Miami regardless,” Herro said minutes before the altercation became public. “Obviously, I’m going to be in Milwaukee during the season. But home will be Miami for me. My kids will go to school in Miami. And that’s how we’re going to do it.”
This story was originally published July 11, 2026 at 10:00 AM.
