Miami Heat star Jimmy Butler is finding common ground with his teammates both on and off the floor, and this is especially true of Goran Dragic.
Butler told Anthony Chiang of the Miami Herald that Dragic is already one of his favorite teammates:
“Man, me and G talk about all types of stuff,” Butler said, as the Heat (24-8) takes its five-game winning streak on the road for Monday’s matchup against the Washington Wizards (9-22). “We send each other all types of things that we find on the internet. I don’t know, man. I was talking to [Heat assistant athletic trainer Armando Rivas] the other day, like G is moving up on my all-time favorite teammates list.”
What has really helped bring the Heat teammates together? Soccer:
But it’s their love of soccer that has been the driving force behind their friendship. Butler is a Paris Saint-Germain fan because of his friendship with PSG forward Neymar and Dragic is a Real Madrid fan.
“It just happened,” Dragic said of becoming close with Butler. “I feel like some things, you can’t just force it. We get along. I didn’t know that he was a huge soccer fan, and I am, too. We just connected. It’s one of those things that just happened. … I just like his character. He’s funny.”
Love of soccer is nothing new for NBA stars. Kobe Bryant and Steve Nash are among the former NBA legends who have an affinity for the game. For Butler and Dragic, it is a form of common ground that has resulted in a new friendship.
Jimmy Butler and Goran Dragic have each played a significant role in helping Miami get off to a 24-8 start, which has featured a number of close wins. Dragic's name is one still being circulated in trade circles, though the Heat may stand pat so as not to upset the chemistry they have built for Butler.
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