Former NBA guard and current ESPN analyst Jalen Rose says Miami Heat forward Jimmy Butler has been the second-best player in the Eastern Conference so far behind Milwaukee Bucks superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo.
The Heat are 18-6 on the season and Butler is playing some of his best basketball. 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.
In the post-Dwyane Wade era, Miami president Pat Riley has found his new franchise player. Riley and head coach Erik Spoelstra are hoping Butler can lead the Heat back to promised land. Miami missed the playoffs in 2018-19 but is well on its way to making it this season.
As part of a sign-and-trade deal between the Heat and Sixers, 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 third 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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