Jimmy Butler’s hard-nosed style of play and personality is perfect for the Miami Heat since president Pat Riley loves that type of basketball.
Butler is loving life right now. He’s living in beautiful Miami, has a new daughter and is the star player for the Heat, who are in a three-way tie for second place in the Eastern Conference with the Toronto Raptors and Boston Celtics.
Jimmy has been fitting in with the Heat very well so far. Why? Because the franchise is allowing the four-time All-Star to be himself:
“The group of individuals that I work with outside of the Miami Heat organization, we sat down and talked about it and we came to the conclusion like you know what, Miami is going to be the spot,” Butler told Vincent Goodwill of Yahoo Sports, via the Miami Herald. “Then when you talk about the organization, like the organization lets me be me to a T and they love it.
“Coach Pat [Riley], he’s me times 10. He’s straight to the point, doesn’t care how he says it. But you know what he’s trying to say and you know he wants to help you and you know that he wants to win. If I got to pick, I’m going to pick somewhere I’m going to be happy whether you don’t like the fact that I didn’t go with a duo or a trio. I’m happy, man. Let me be happy. Just let me be happy. There’s a fine line in between the two. Right now, I’m happy and we are winning.”
In the post-Dwyane Wade era, Riley has found his new franchise player. Riley and head coach Erik Spoelstra are hoping Butler can lead the Heat back to the playoffs this season. Miami missed it in 2018-19.
Butler is putting up 18.9 points, 5.4 rebounds and 6.7 assists per game on the season for the Heat. He’s shooting 43.6 percent from the field, 25.7 percent from beyond the arc and 86.9 percent from the free-throw line.
