KZ Okpala may not be the most heralded rookie on the Miami Heat’s roster, but he has some insight on why their top rookie can go far as an NBA player.
A few days ago, Okpala started working out with his new teammates, including Tyler Herro, the 13th overall pick in this year’s NBA Draft, and Okpala was impressed.
“One thing I’ll have to say about him is he’s confident,” Okpala said about Herro. “I think that will take him as far as he needs to go, for sure.”
Okpala, a 6-foot-9, 215-pound forward who played two seasons at Stanford University, was chosen by the Phoenix Suns in the second round of this summer’s draft. The Heat gave up three second-round draft picks in a three-team trade earlier this month in order to acquire him.
Okpala and Herro will be part of an overhaul of the team’s roster, which includes newcomers Jimmy Butler and Meyers Leonard. Hassan Whiteside and Josh Richardson were sent to the Portland Trail Blazers and Philadelphia 76ers, respectively, while future Hall of Famer Dwyane Wade retired after 16 seasons.
