Miami Heat star small forward Jimmy Butler is already forming bonds and emerging as Miami's leader, according to Shandel Richardson of The Athletic.
The Heat acquired Butler from the Philadelphia 76ers this offseason in a sign-and-trade deal involving Josh Richardson.
In the post-Dwyane Wade era, Miami president Pat Riley has found his new franchise player and is hoping Butler can lead the Heat back to the playoffs in 2019-20.
After a vacation that included stops in Brazil, Italy and Senegal, Butler was back in the gym with teammates in early September. Early indications show he is already forming bonds and emerging as a leader. Then again, that was the case at his previous stops, too.
Jimmy Butler is one of the best two-way players in the game. He averaged 18.7 points, 5.3 rebounds and 4.0 assists with the Minnesota Timberwolves and Sixers last season while shooting 46.2 percent from the field, 34.7 percent from beyond the arc and 85.5 percent from the free-throw line.
Butler, 30, was reportedly blown away by all the pomp and circumstance surrounding Wade’s final home game with the Heat last season. The four-time All-Star told friends after Wade’s final game in Miami against the Sixers that being able to see what Miami and the Heat organization are about left an enormous impact on him.
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