Heat G Dru Smith (Achilles tendon) out for season

Field Level Media|published: Tue 24th December, 14:57 2024

Dec 23, 2024; Miami, Florida, USA; Miami Heat guard Dru Smith (12) slips while dribbling the basketball against Brooklyn Nets guard Keon Johnson (45) during the second quarter at Kaseya Center. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images

Miami Heat guard Dru Smith will miss the remainder of the season after sustaining a torn Achilles tendon.

Smith was injured on a non-contact play during Miami's 110-95 victory against the Brooklyn Nets on Monday and needed assistance to leave the court.

Smith had worked his way back into the lineup after recovering from a torn ACL just over one year ago while with the Heat's G League affiliate, the Sioux Falls Skyforce.

"You don't want to see anybody get hurt," Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said. "But we all have such incredible deep respect for his journey, what he's had to overcome. I've been in the building all those times the last year, when nobody else was here and he was doing all the extensive treatment and rehab around the clock. He just has incredible fortitude. So you end up absolutely rooting for guys like Dru."

Smith, who turns 27 on Monday, was averaging 6.3 points and 2.6 rebounds in 19.1 minutes per game this season. He has played in just 38 NBA games (14 this season) over three seasons with the Nets and Heat.

--Field Level Media

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