For Tyler Herro and Two Other NBA Stars, No. 13 Hasn't Been Unlucky

Tyler Herro simply took control for the Miami Heat in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference Finals. No rookie has ever scored 37 points in a conference final as Herro did against the Boston Celtics. Herro's heroics have put the Heat one game away from an NBA Finals appearance. Herro and two other NBA stars have debunked the myth that 13 is an unlucky number.

Herro took charge in Game 4

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He's just a rookie, but Tyler Herro was Miami's go-to guy in a crucial Game 4 Wednesday night against the Bostin Celtics. Herro, a 6-foot-5 shooting guard, was making his shots and the Heat kept feeding him. Herro played 36 minutes off the bench and singlehandedly lifted the Heat to a 3-1 series advantage over the Celtics.

“He has a great competitive humility about him,” Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said of Herro, according to ESPN. “He has a confidence and he has a fearlessness that is uncommon. But he's humble enough to work, to be coachable, to take the mentorship from the veteran players that we have on our team, and he just continues to gain more confidence as we go.”

Herro made 14 of 21 shots from the floor, including five of 10 3-pointers. Celtics coach Brad Stevens said Herro was the difference. “Herro's shot-making tonight was ... the difference in the game,” Stevens said. “Jimmy was great late. Adebayo was his typical self. Dragic made some big plays. But Herro was ridiculously good tonight. That rim must have looked like the ocean to him.”

Herro had an outstanding rookie year for the Miami Heat

Tyler Herro played one year of college basketball at Kentucky. He was the lone Wildcat player to start in all 37 games in 2018. Herro averaged 14 points and 4.5 rebounds in his lone college season. His biggest game came against Arkansas when he scored 29 points.

After one season at Kentucky, Herro declared for the NBA draft. He was selected by the Miami Heat with the 13th overall pick. Herro mostly came off the bench, starting just eight games, and he put up 13.5 points per game and helped lead the Heat to the fifth seed in the Eastern Conference.

Herro has shown great poise and confidence for a 20-year-old. He's been a difference-maker for the Heat during their strong playoff run. Herro and Magic Johnson are the only two rookies in NBA history to score at least 35 points, have five rebounds, and dish out at least three assists in one of the two final rounds of the playoffs, according to CBS Sports.

No. 13 has been lucky for Herro and two other NBA stars

He wears No. 14, but the number 13 has been very lucky for Tyler Herro and two other NBA stars. The Miami Heat drafted Herro out of Kentucky with the 13th pick, and he has not disappointed. Having the 13th pick in the draft rarely guarantees a quality NBA pick, but two other recent draft picks have gone on to NBA stardom after being selected at No. 13

Utah's all-star guard Donovan Mitchell was a steal at No. 13 in the 2017 NBA draft. In three seasons with the Jazz, Mitchell has put up 22.7 points per game. He was an NBA All-Star for the first time this season.

Back in 2015, the Phoenix Suns selected Kentucky guard Devin Booker with the 13th overall pick. Booker, in his five NBA seasons, is averaging 22.5 points per game. He, like Mitchell, was also named an NBA All-Star this season. Herro has said Booker is the player he looks up to.

Statistics courtesy of Basketball Reference.