LOOK: John Calipari in Miami to see former Kentucky stars in NBA Playoffs

La familia stretches to all ends of the basketball world, and there’s no better case of former Kentucky stars in the NBA today than the Eastern Conference Semifinals series between the Miami Heat and the Philadelphia 76ers, and head coach John Calipari wanted to be front and center for the action Wednesday night.

Had to get down to Miami to see @raf_tyler get his Sixth Man of the Year award! Great seeing all of our guys here – Tyler, @Bam1of1, @MychalMulder and @TyreseMaxey! Also got to chat with Pat Riley!#LaFamilia pic.twitter.com/47asClHUWX

— John Calipari (@UKCoachCalipari) May 4, 2022

The newly crowned Sixth Man of the Year in the NBA, Tyler Herro, one of the NBA’s most prominent defenders in Bam Adebayo and the breakout former G-League sensation Mychal Mulder are suiting up for the Heat. Add in Heat president Pat Riley, who was a part of the infamous Kentucky team that lost to Texas Western, and there’s no wonder Miami is stacking former Wildcats.

The 76ers on the other hand boast Tyrese Maxey, who has emerged as a legitimate threat in an already lethal offense highlighted by James Harden and Joel Embiid.

Game Two of the Eastern Conference Semifinals is currently underway live on TNT as Miami looks to stretch their series lead to 2-0 following a victory Wednesday night.

Former Kentucky star Tyler Herro wins prestigious NBA award

Former Kentucky WIldcats star Tyler Herro learned that he had earned one of the most prestigious awards in the NBA after his regular season performance. Herro was awarded NBA 6th Man of the Year on Tuesday, one day after a 25-point scoring effort off the bench to win Game 1 of Miami’s playoff series with Philadelphia.

Herro has been one of the frontrunners for the 6th Man of the Year award all season, but on Tuesday it was revealed just how dominant he was in the race. Herro received 96 out of 100 first-place votes for the award, beating Cleveland’s Kevin Love and Phoenix’s Cam Johnson — the only two other players to receive first-place votes. He is the first Miami Heat player to win the award.

Asked to come off the bench by Miami despite his major offensive production and usage by the team is something that Herro believes speaks to the culture at Miami. Herro praised the team’s “next man up” philosophy and the trust that his teammates have in him as he spoke about receiving the award.

The moment he was informed he had won was captured by video as his teammates celebrated with him and NBA veteran Udonis Haslem made a small speech to congratulate him. The trophy itself is a special design, commemorating the NBA’s 75th anniversary celebration. The trophy is a solid crystal basketball with the NBA 75 logo etched into the center.