It's an understatement to say that Jimmy Butler has done a magnificent job in leading the Miami Heat in these 2020 playoffs, including a truly historic run in the NBA Finals. Led by the five-time All-Star, the Heat have continuously shocked the world and will look to do so when Game 6 against the Los Angeles Lakers tips off on Sunday night.
In a story written by Ramona Shelburne of ESPN, she details how Butler used to hang out in a closet in college. Buzz Williams, Butler's coach at Marquette, shared how it all started:
“One day Jimmy comes in and says, ‘Hey, Coach, you think I can sit in here?' He's standing at my door, and he's pointing at the closet. And I was like, ‘Yeah, you can sit in there. That's the closet. Why don't you go sit in the locker room?'
“He was like, ‘No. If it's OK, I'm going to go sit in here.'”
Williams and Butler didn't know each other well at that point, but they had the unspoken bond of two men who'd come from small towns in Texas and succeeded despite long odds. So Williams just kind of nodded at Butler and let him sit in the closet for as long as he wanted.
Though Williams initially questioned Butler's intent, he eventually gave his Marquette star his own “little place” to hang out.
Jimmy Butler's competitive fire and unrelenting energy has been the focus in these Finals so far. This especially became magnified when the Heat star still managed to sink four season-saving free throws for Miami down the stretch in Game 5. Butler was able to close out his masterpiece in clutch fashion despite having nothing left in the tank, as shown by the viral image of him resting on the basketball stanchion after getting fouled on one of his late game drives on Friday.
With everybody still wondering where Butler is able to muster up the energy to keep going and keep fighting for the Heat, his former coach believes it came from his safe space. Furthermore, Williams added that Butler is right at home in the bubble, and his sort of breakout this postseason is a testament to that:
Williams is thinking about the closet.
“People are talking about the bubble. He ain't worried about that bubble,” Williams said. “He thinks it's perfect. You mean I don't have to get on a plane? You mean I don't have to pack up my stuff and go to a different hotel room? You mean we're playing in the same gym every day? You mean I'm staying in the same bed every night?
“Oh, he's right where he wants to be. He'd play every day for the rest of his career in a bubble.”
Even if the Heat don't win this series, Jimmy Butler's legend has grown immensely. But they're here to win, and they'll try to continue their miracle on Sunday night.
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