NBA Hall of Famer and Miami Heat legend Alonzo Mourning is a big fan of Jimmy Butler, who is the new franchise player in South Beach in the post-Dwyane Wade era.
Mourning, one of the fiercest competitors in NBA history, says Butler is “a miniature version of myself.”
“He's a miniature version of myself,” Mourning said on ESPN's The Jump. “Just his intensity. The way he goes about preparation. And then also the way he plays on both sides of the ball, defensively as well as offensively. He can impact the game with his defense, change the game with his defense.”
The Heat are 18-6 on the season and Butler is playing some of the best basketball of his career. The four-time All-Star is averaging 20.6 points, 6.9 rebounds and 7.0 assists on the season while shooting 43.1 percent from the field, 30.4 percent from beyond the arc and 82.7 percent from the free-throw line.
As part of a sign-and-trade deal between the Heat and Philadelphia 76ers, Butler signed a four-year, $141 million deal with Miami. A lot of pundits questioned Butler’s move to South Beach.
However, Butler is proving everyone wrong so far and has the Heat in the second spot in the Eastern Conference standings.
Butler was reportedly blown away by all the pomp and circumstance surrounding Wade’s last home game with the Heat last season and told friends after the game being able to see what Miami and the Heat organization are about left an enormous impact on him.
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