The news on the injury front turned even more complex for Tyler Herro, with an MRI showing a painful rib issue that is expected to have the Heat guard out for the entirety of the team’s five-game western swing.

Officially listed by the Heat on the NBA injury report as a “right costochondral injury to the ribs,” the issue stands as an issue of pain tolerance, not surgical.

Nonetheless, it is another setback for the 2025 All-Star who missed the first 17 games of the season following September ankle surgery, and then 13 more due to a toe contusion.

Listed as out for Monday night’s game against the Golden State Warriors, if Herro misses all five games of the Heat’s trip, it would mean being out for 36 of the season’s first 47 games.

Herro has appeared in just 11 games this season, having played in five in a row before sitting out Saturday night’s home victory over the league-leading Oklahoma City Thunder.

According to Cleveland Clinic, Costochondritis is a painful inflammation in the costochondral joints — the cartilage that joins ribs to the sternum — making movement or breathing difficult, with athletes in contact sports at a higher risk.

Per Cleveland Clinic’s website, “Costochondritis is usually a short-term issue. Most people experience symptoms anywhere from a few days to a few weeks. It’s rare, but costochondritis can last for several months.”

The Heat’s five-game trip continues from Monday night’s opener against the Warriors at Chase Center with games at the Sacramento Kings on Tuesday, Portland Trail Blazers on Thursday, Utah Jazz on Saturday and Phoenix Suns on Sunday. The Heat then return to Kaseya Center for a Jan. 28 game against the Orlando Magic.

The Heat went into the trip at 4-7 with Herro available this season.

When available, Herro has been efficient this season, averaging 21.9 points, 4.7 rebounds and 2.7 assists, while shooting .497 from the field and .358 on 3-pointers.

Ahead of the MRI, Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said of this latest Herro ailment, “This shouldn’t be long-term. We’ll just continue to treat him and see how he responds.”

Herro, who turns 26 on Tuesday, is at somewhat of a crossroads with the Heat, with the team bypassing a contract extension during an October window, with another extension window to open in July. Otherwise, he is under contract for $31 million this season and $33 million in 2026-27, then eligible for free agency in the 2027 offseason.

Amid previous concern about durability, Herro appeared in 77 of the Heat’s 82 games last season, after playing only 42 in 2023-24. It was following that season, Heat president Pat Riley challenged Herro to be more available when it came to a potential contract extension.

Adebayo honored

Heat center Bam Adebayo on Monday was named NBA Eastern Conference Player of the Week for the period ending Sunday.

Over the judging period, the Heat went 2-1, with Adebayo averaging 27 points and 8.3 rebounds, shooting .565 on 3-pointers,

It is the third time Adebayo has been honored in his nine-season NBA career, all with the Heat, also taking the honor in 2019 and 2024, and the 63rd time in the franchise’s 38 season that a Heat player has been so honored.

The Heat’s most recent Player of the Week had been Herro in Dec. 2024.

Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander took the weekend honor Monday from the Western Conference.

No Star, yet

As expected, the Heat did not have a selection when the five Eastern Conference players voted starters for the Feb. 15 All-Star Game were announced Monday in the combined fan/media/player voting.

The five voted in as starters from the East were Giannis Antetokounmpo, Jaylen Brown, Jalen Brunson, Cade Cunningham and Tyrese Maxey.

That now makes it a waiting game for the Heat, with conference coaches to select seven reserves from each conference.

Guard Norman Powell, seeking his first All-Star selection, stands as the Heat favorite for such a berth. Herro was the Heat’s lone All-Star last year.

Voted in as starters from the Western Conference game in Los Angeles were Stephen Curry, Luka Dončić, Gilgeous-Alexander, Nikola Jokić and Victor Wembanyama.

All-Star voting no longer is conducted with regard to position.

Powell placed 14th in the combined weighed vote, placing 14th in the player vote, 16th in the fan vote and 10th in the media vote. Adebayo placed 21st overall in the weighted voting.