Miami Heat president Pat Riley and head coach Erik Spoelstra have been enamored with Jimmy Butler over the past few years, which is why both men jumped for joy when Butler decided to sign with the Heat in free agency this past summer.

Butler signed a four-year max contract with Miami as part of a sign-and-trade deal with the Philadelphia 76ers. Spoelstra, who has coached LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, Chris Bosh and now Butler, says Butler “should’ve been in a Heat uniform long ago.”

“He should’ve been in a Heat uniform long ago,” Spoelstra said, via USA TODAY Sports. “It feels like he’s about what we’re about, and we’re about what he’s about.”

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The Heat, led by Butler, are 20-8 on the season. They are in the third spot in the Eastern Conference standings. All signs point toward Butler leading Miami back to the playoffs after they missed out last season.

Butler, a four-time All-Star and one of the best two-way players in the game, is averaging 20.9 points, 6.5 rebounds and 6.8 assists per game this season for the Heat. He’s shooting 43.2 percent from the field, 27.7 percent from beyond the arc and 82.9 percent from the free-throw line.

Before the season started, most pundits picked the Milwaukee Bucks and Philadelphia 76ers to meet in the Eastern Conference Finals. Butler and the Heat may have something to say about that when it's all said and done.