Heat news: How Jimmy Butler destroyed 'toxic' label in Miami

Prior to joining the Heat, Jimmy Butler carried a reputation as being a locker room cancer. However, his teammate Meyers Leonard knows that has changed.

Prior to joining the Miami Heat, Jimmy Butler carried quite a controversial reputation as being a toxic teammate. However, all of that seems to be all gone with how his first season in South Beach went. His teammate Meyers Leonard appeared on the SiriusXM NBA Radio Show and offered the highest of praises for their superstar forward

“This is guy is literally the definition of a max player. He's everything you want. He's disciplined. He's a very good teammate. And for whatever ridiculous reason, people didn't seem to think that when he was a part of other organizations,” Leonard said of the Heat leader.

"I'm shocked at the level in which he's able to impact the game"

🔊 Miami Heat Center Meyers Leonard explains the leadership qualities Jimmy Butler has brought to Miami pic.twitter.com/XlFNTADXrr

— SiriusXM NBA Radio (@SiriusXMNBA) October 31, 2020

Meyers Leonard began his spiel about Jimmy Butler's selflessness and his desire to involve his teammates every time. Furthermore, he shared how shocked he is with how the 31-year old is able to impact the game on both sides of the floor.

Butler's stock has certainly risen to an all-time high, especially after his 2020 postseason run. In his debut season in Miami, the former no. 30 overall pick led the Heat to an unexpected Finals appearance.

Though they were overwhelming underdogs against the eventual champion Los Angeles Lakers, Butler did everything in his power to make the series competitive. His two highlight games came in Games 3 and 5, where the five-time All-Star put Herculean efforts to lead the Heat to victory.

Butler notched a 40-point triple-double in Game 3 while playing without fellow All-Star Bam Adebayo and playoff leading scorer Goran Dragic. He later dropped a masterful 35-12-11 outing in Game 5 to live to fight another day.

although the Heat lost the series in a blowout in Game 6, the Marquette standout certainly cemented his status as one of the best players in the league. But given Butler's competitiveness, you know he's not just about to settle for second place.