Terry Rozier hasn’t played in the postseason since moving to the Charlotte Hornets in 2019. Now that he is with the Miami Heat, who are on the cusp of making it back to the playoffs, Rozier is not taking his new lease of life for granted.
“It’s great. You know how my last four years went. So just to be in this position, to be competing and to be in an important spot, it means a lot,” said Rozier via Ira Winderman of The Sun Sentinel.
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This isn’t the first time that Terry Rozier has spoken about this. In late January this year, the former Louisville guard described the huge difference between the team DNA and the culture of the Charlotte Hornets and the Miami Heat.
“It’s the total opposite. Charlotte, you are kind of used to losing, it’s kind of the DNA. And it sucks to say that because of how much of a competitor I am, but over here it is the total opposite, nobody wants to lose,” Rozier said.
“There is no secret about the difference between organizations, some organizations in the league, how well some people take winning, the culture of things, but this is the top,” he added.
Terry Rozier with the Miami Heat so far this season
The Miami Heat traded for Terry Rozier before the NBA trade deadline because they needed a guard who could consistently wreak havoc on the offensive end.
Unlike in Charlotte where he is one of the top dogs, averaging over 20 points a night, Terry Rozier had to adjust his game in Miami because he is playing with stars Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo. In 27 regular-season games, Terry Rozier is averaging 16.1 points, 4.9 assists, and 4.4 rebounds per game.
It took him some time, but Terry Rozier now looks more comfortable within the Miami Heat’s system, and head coach Erik Spoelstra is happy with his progress.
“Terry is getting a lot more comfortable,” Spoelstra said. “He really is pure. He wants to help. He wants to contribute. He wants to make things better and easier with the group.”
