It's no secret that Goran Dragic and Jimmy Butler forged a deep bond in just their first year playing together for the Miami Heat, thanks in large part to their magical 2019-20 run in the NBA bubble.
The 6-foot-3 Slovenian recently sat down with Shams Charania of The Athletic and Stadium and further discussed his unique relationship with the misunderstood Heat star.
Dragic also bared why Butler is indeed the perfect player to embody what the South Beach-based franchise is all about.
“I don't know how,” Goran Dragic said when asked about Jimmy Butler's notorious reputation before he joined the Heat.
“He is a tremendous player, unbelievable teammate. I think it's the culture that Miami has. Coach Spo and the coaches, they want you to talk. They want you to engage in a conversation. Sometimes it's not going to be pretty, it's not going to be nice. That is good to move forward as a team. And Jimmy, that's how Jimmy is. He will tell you straight to your face if you are not doing your job. Everybody in this team understands. Maybe in his previous teams players were a little sensitive and maybe because of that they had problems with Jimmy. Nobody in our team had this problem. He is a great leader on the court and a competitive guy. With him, basically we made the Finals.”
Goran Dragic sits down on @Stadium: Leadership and sacrifice, revealing he is now fully recovered from the plantar fascia tear he suffered in the Finals, desire to stay in Miami while listening to offers in free agency and more. pic.twitter.com/k3IY8JoaNI
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) November 13, 2020
Dragic and Butler indeed clicked right away, evidenced by their hilarious “Big Face Coffee” banter throughout their stay inside the bubble. On the court, the pair of savvy veterans willed the fifth-seeded Heat team to exceed all expectations and make it all the way to the NBA Finals against eventual champs Los Angeles Lakers.
Had Dragic not tore his plantar fascia in Game 1 and Bam Adebayo stayed healthy, most pundits believe Miami could have given LA a much better fight in the finale. Despite the odds, Butler still gave it his all and allowed the Heat to snatch two victories over the Lakers.
As for Dragic, he will be one of the most sought-after guards once free agency officially opens on November 20. His chemistry with Butler and the rest of the Heat, however, will likely make him stay in Miami for the foreseeable future.
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