Miami Heat icon Dwyane Wade already knew Jimmy Butler because of their shared connection with Marquette. So when Butler was picked 30th overall in the 2011 NBA Draft, Wade couldn't help but blurt out his excitement.
In the Road Trippin' Podcast, Wade shared what was going through his head during the 2011 NBA Draft. When his fellow Marquette alum was picked last in the first round, Wade was simply happy.
“Jimmy got drafted the last pick in the first round, the 30th pick. And I remember thinking “Oh damn, good for Jimmy! Good for Jimmy! I'm glad Jimmy got in there.”
Wade was well-aware that Butler wasn't that “once-in-a-generation-player” that will transform a team overnight. But he certainly knew of Butler's work ethic. And throughout the course of his career, Wade saw Butler slowly develop into one hell of a complete player.
“Because he wasn't ‘that' type of player. But I watched him… He started off as a defensive player… Then I just watched his rise. And when I got to Chicago, what I saw was Jimmy was confident and always says confidence comes from the work.”
It was this confidence that Wade believed guided the Heat all the way to the 2020 NBA Finals. The odds were stacked against them. Nobody living outside of Florida really believed that they were going to win over the powerhouse Lakers squad. But against all doubts, the Heat showed up and won two games — a noteworthy feat in itself. And in the process, Jimmy Butler and the Heat gained the respect of the league. Now it's time for them to show their Finals run was no fluke.
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