Jimmy Butler is hoping to set the stage upon his arrival at South Beach, now that the Miami Heat have completed the trade to bring him in on a max contract after parting ways with the Philadelphia 76ers in free agency.
The two-way star is hoping to reach the high standard of excellence Dwyane Wade left before retiring earlier this year.
“I think I’m just going to do the same thing that I always do,” Butler said, according to Shandel Richardson of The Athletic. “Come in and work, come in and hoop and just try to be the best player that I can be, lead by example that way and show them the little bit that I do know. They’ve been around much better players than myself, definitely in Dwyane Wade, and I’m sure he set the bar pretty high for the guys and they’re continually trying to reach that bar every day. Now that I’m here I’ve got to jump up there and try to reach that bar as well.”
The Heat seem to be a natural fit for a star that prides himself in his work ethic, the commitment to his craft, and a culture based on excellence — three aspects the franchise ensembles.
Yet only time will tell if Jimmy Buckets can reach the level of adoration that Wade received during his long career in the league, spending the vast majority in Miami, where most say he's surpassed Dan Marino as the star the city keeps dearest to its heart.