NBA icon Dwyane Wade is pleased with the way Jimmy Butler and the Miami Heat are performing through the early stages of this season.
Miami is carrying a 6-3 record through their first nine games of this campaign, and Butler is playing well. The former Marquette Golden Eagle has made six appearances with the Heat thus far, racking up averages of 19.3 points on 43.8 percent shooting from the field (26.3 percent from beyond the arc), 6.5 rebounds, 5.5 assists and a whopping 2.8 steals in 32.5 minutes per outing.
Wade, who's known as a Heat legend, says Butler fits in to Miami's culture, and he's happy for his success:
“I love it,” Wade said via Complex. “I felt like (Jimmy) was a Miami guy and I made sure he knew that. He fits right into the culture and that’s what it’s all about, that’s what Jimmy Butler is about. I’m happy for his success so far. I love seeing him in that Heat jersey. I know that’s the one thing he thought he would never do, is wear a Miami Heat jersey, but you never say never in this world. I’m really excited about this season for our guys.”




Butler made his way to the Heat this offseason by way of a four-team trade. There were some critics who questioned the decision, noting his past transgressions with teammates. Wade, however, says he'll take Jimmy Butler on his team any day of the week:
“I don’t think Jimmy really cares about the perception that’s put out there,” Wade told Complex. “Jimmy knows who he is. He’s okay with that. He’s a guy who wants to win. He would do whatever it takes to do that. When you go from being unheard of, to being an All-Star, to being one of the best players in the game, you understand how much work you put in to do that. You want to bring others along as well with those work habits. Give me a Jimmy Butler on any team in my life and I know I’ll be successful.”
Butler and the Heat will be back in action on Tuesday night, when they'll serve as hosts to the Detroit Pistons. Tip-off inside AmericanAirlines Arena is set for 7:30 p.m. ET.
Let's see if Jimmy can continue this level of production.