Dru Smith Says Miami Heat BELIEVE In Him | Lessons From Thunder Defense | Miami Heat Media Day 2025

Dru Smith Says Miami Heat BELIEVE In Him | Lessons From Thunder Defense | Miami Heat Media Day 2025

How was your summer? It was good. It was good. A lot of time here. Yeah. Yeah. What was the offseason like for you? Like are you training here? Are you recovering? Mix of both. Yeah. No, I was just doing a lot of rehab. Um, so I’ve been here, you know, basically all summer. Yeah. I think one of the things that stands out to most is that you were playing basically your best basketball before you got hurt last year. How much of that kind of led to the overall disappointment of just having to go through another injury? Yeah, I mean I think you know it was just just frustrating at the time. Um like you said felt like I was you know playing well and starting to find a role and that kind of thing and so uh it was definitely tough. Um but you know just got to kind of take things in stride. Uh it was unfortunate obviously and took some time to get over but we haven’t gotten a chance to talk to you much since that injury. I mean you you mentioned it takes a while to get over that and we know your history. It’s consecutive seasons now with season ending injuries. Freak accidents it seems like both times. I mean mentally how hard is that to kind of that process of damn it happened again. Yeah. Now what? Yeah. You know I think uh I think it is tough. Um but I think you know when you surround yourself with the right people obviously um my wife especially um she never lets me you know have those days where I you know feel sorry. Not you know that she doesn’t let me but you know there’s no reason to feel sorry for myself. Um I’m blessed to be in the position that I’m in at the end of the day. And so, um, you know, just kind of understanding that this was, you know, whatever, for whatever reason, this was a part of my plan. And so, um, just trying to spin it as positively as I can and come in here every day with a good attitude because I, you know, I believe that if you, you know, the more positive you are with the rehab, I think the better it goes. So, just, you know, trying to not have very many days where, um, you know, where I’m being really negative, but, you know, it is tough, especially going through it again. Do you question like whether or not you want to keep playing or kind of work your way through there? I mean, I Yeah, I think uh probably early on there’s a couple days where you’re like, man, you know, how um how am I going to do this again really? Um another full year of rehab basically. Um but at the end of the day, I think, you know, I feel like this is what I’m supposed to be doing. So, if I’m if I’m going to get back to playing, the rehab is what you have to do. So, just trying to take it as serious um as I can and uh be as as diligent as I can. What’s your timeline like as far as returning to full court action? Yeah, I mean I’ve been I’ve been able to jump in some five on five here recently. Okay. Um some live play. I think you know training camp should I should be pretty full go as far as I understand. Um so you know I think as long as it continues to respond well then uh it should continue to trend upwards. Excellent. So you got the the contract on the 15man roster now. Before you got hurt that was your contract and then you get hurt and and there’s the money part of it that I’m sure is very difficult. But then you get the contract this summer. Are you were you even surprised at that point given we know how this organization feels about you what they say but injuries are injuries you know were you surprised at that point when you get that call over the summer and they say hey you’re on the roster yeah I think you know like you said it’s it’s it’s a business at the end of the day and so um I was definitely a little surprised but just very appreciative really overall um you know to be able to kind of have the little bit of that security understand that you know I’m going to be here for the year um and that way you know I can just keep burying my head keep trying to rehab get back healthy. Um, and uh, you know, just try to try to help a team win. Let’s talk basketball a little bit. Oh, sorry. On the flip side of that though, the fact that they keep bringing you back, that’s got to see be like a sign of encouragement, right? That they Absolutely. I think I think it, you know, builds a little bit of confidence as well. Um, you know, and just, you know, that I feel like they believe in me and I think, you know, gives me a little bit of belief in myself as well, just to continue to even work harder to get back. Um, and, you know, just try to prove them right. Yeah. you and DaVon Mitchell kind of kindred defensive spirits I think in that back court. Yeah. Are you looking how much are you looking forward to that and do you think you guys could play together? I mean I think there’s definitely situations where we can play together. Um like you said I think defensively it would be um it’d be fun to be out there with him. Uh there’s not very many guys that move their feet the way he does. Um and so it was fun watching him, you know, over those last those last few months. Uh so I definitely think, you know, we can get out there together. um you know both be picking up full both um having an impact on the game on on that end and on the other end you know and then offensively you were also having your best season you’re shooting the lights out you’re playing well spo trusted you to bring the ball up get the offense initiated and all these things are those also the things that you’re working on hoping that you could provide at that point yeah for sure I think you know just trying to be the guy that I was at the time whenever I got hurt and you know continuing to hopefully improve at the same time what was clicking at that point because like David said it was like it kind of was all coming together at that moment for you. Yeah, for sure. I think um honestly it was I was healthy. Um the opport you know I was I was able to play for you know several games in a row. Those are for guys like me that’s like you know that’s kind of all that you’ve been waiting for. So I think um you know just having that opportunity um and I just felt like I was you know I was ready, prepared, feeling confident and whenever the time came uh I was just able to step in. when you’re out on the you’re missing time that that like that do you kind of look at what’s happening on the floor and kind of envision what you can do to add to your game or to continue to fit into whatever version of the roster that is. Yeah, I think you know more of that more than trying to add to the game just trying to figure out you know ways that you could maybe help maybe lift us up um you know maybe impact a couple more wins here and there. Um you know I think that the guys that we that we ended the season with did a great job. I think um that there’s you know obviously some things that I um I think that I can help with. Um and you know I think there’s other things where um there were just a little bit of growing pains there down the stretch but you know really looking forward to this group that we have and you know the year coming up. One of the things our listeners talk about the most is that maybe there’s no kind of typical point guard on the roster but at the same time we heard Eric Spolster say downstairs there are a number of kind of playmakers ball handlers that can initiate the offense. Where do you see yourself fitting into that? And and do you think that’s a concern as far as not having that again that typical point guard on the roster? Yeah, I mean I think I think just in general the league doesn’t you know there’s not like it’s about versatility more than there’s not a ton of like you know true pass first point guards. Um but I think that we have like like coach said a lot of guys that are able to you know if we need to initiate the offense if we need to um you know look for others and things like that I think we have a lot of guys that are able to do that. And um whether that be, you know, your traditional point guard or guys like Nico or anybody like that, I think we have a lot of lot of very versatile guys. Good point. Yeah. Defensively, what do you guys think you’re going to try to accomplish at that end? Other than getting stops obviously, but you look at a team like the Thunder that just won the championship. A lot of onball pressure, a lot of the stuff that you and Dave and a lot of guys on this roster do at a really high level. Are there elements of that that you guys are going to try to adopt here or like what what kind of is going to be the calling card on that? I think I think we’re going to have to kind of find our own thing. You know what I mean? I think obviously um if you watch the playoffs, I think, you know, the Pacers and the Thunder both, you know, a lot of ball pressure, a lot of picking up full court, things like that. So, I’m sure a lot of the league will, you know, go toward a little bit more towards that. But, I think everybody’s going to have to find their own thing, what they’re the best at. Um whether that’s us picking up full or maybe it’s applying pressure in the half court, anything like that. But, I think, uh defensively, we’ll be able to be able to, you know, cause some cause some issues. Mhm. I like to ask defensive players this question a lot because I think you you talk to people around the league, even players. Some people say, “Oh, you know, defense defense is really about effort, about hard work.” Part of it obviously is. I think that’s kind of doing a disservice to really strong defensive players like yourself. I do think there’s a skill element involved that gets overlooked. Do you agree with me? And what is that skill? Oh, man. I I I don’t know if I could pinpoint what the skill is. I think it’s different for everybody, honestly. I think guys I think elite defenders do it in a lot of different ways, you know, like some guys are are really physical, other guys just move their feet really well or like they, you know, they’re very hard to screen. There’s, you know, there’s a lot of different skills. Some guys are elite defenders that are rim protectors, you know what I mean? So, I think it’s different for everybody, but I think obviously the effort level has to be there or else it’s not going to work. But I do think that there’s definitely a skill to it. What’s yours? What would you say like is your elite skill? Um, you know, I think more than anything I just try to be a step ahead of the play. um because I’m not, you know, I’m not the fastest, the most athletic guy out there. But I think, you know, just understanding what teams are trying to get to. Um being in the right spots is really what helps me more than anything. How do you do that? Is that anticipatory kind of instinct thing or is that film work? Is that work? Yeah, I think it’s a little bit of both. I think, you know, honestly, I’ve I’ve always kind of defense has always kind of come a little easier to me. um you know, just being in those spots and things like that. But I think uh yeah, also just studying understanding also what we’re trying to do as a team. You know what I mean? Like if if I’m doing something and I’m just going rogue, it’s not going to, you know, it’s going to look bad. So just making sure that I’m also doing everything within what we’re trying to accomplish. Um we’re asking a couple of players some some uh well before I flip this paper over, one question that I want to ask you. Did you do anything off topic? Did you do anything this summer other than working out and rehabbing that you had never done before? Anything new? Are you a native Miamiian at this point now? Like you’ve been here for your season? I’ve been Yeah, I’ve been here a few seasons. I wouldn’t say uh I wouldn’t say I know everywhere around town, but uh definitely feel pretty comfortable being here now. Yeah. Where’s your wife from, if you don’t mind my asking? My wife, she’s from Illinois. We’re both from the Midwest, so this is uh it was definitely culture shock. Yeah, a little bit of a culture shock, but we we love it here. We’ve really gotten used to anything uh in Spanish that you’re picked up that you’re able to just say just rattle off. No, my Spanish my Spanish isn’t great. Uh, I say I’m trying to think like if I get in an Uber or something, maybe loto when we be in. Oh, hey, you nailed it. That’s all you need to know. You’re covered. Uh, let us know. Uh, we’re asking everybody this question. It’s the old cafeteria meme. Uh, oh, you get to choose a table. So, take a look. Take a minute here. Choose the table that you want to sit at for lunch and tell us why. Man, I might choose I might choose table five right there. You said you get at a table with CB and UD. It’s gonna and and Wheez is in there. You know, I think it’s a great mix of personalities, a lot of laughs. That’s probably where I’ll I think that speaks more about your personality. Kind of an old soul, right? You want to hang out with a coach? Yeah, he’s trying to hang out with the coaches. Trying to ingratiate himself. He’s like, “Hey, maybe a little bit more playing time comes my way.” UD UD and CB are hilarious, so it’s it’d be a good time for sure. Are you surprised by how good UD is on TV? Uh, honestly, no. I think he’s he’s he’s just himself, you know what I mean? He’s just really good and he’s just being himself. So, I think it’s it’s cool for him for sure. Thanks, Drew. Appreciate it. Absolutely. No problem. Appreciate you guys. See you up in Thank you so much. We’ll see you up there.

From Miami Heat media day, Dru Smith joins us to talk about his path back to the Miami Heat, their unwavering belief in him after two season-ending injuries, and how he remained committed to making it in the NBA. Smith also details what the Heat can learn from teams like the Thunder, Pacers, and Miami’s defensive upside.

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