Philadelphia 76ers coach Brett Brown was not overly concerned about Jimmy Butler's ejection in Game 4 of their first-round series against the Brooklyn Nets.
As it turns out, a heated Butler is one capable of impacting his team beyond scoring, but bringing the right momentum and attitude to light a fire under his teammates.
“Jimmy thrives under blankets of controversy and heat-of-the-battle type moments, and I greatly respect it,” said the Sixers head coach, according to ESPN's David Fleming. “If you look at high-level competitors, it's part of their DNA, and it's certainly part of his DNA.”
Butler isn't only a capable scorer in the clutch and an elite-level, multi-positional defender, but also a leader capable of changing it all for the lineup around him, often injecting his teammates with an infectious willingness to compete.
The Sixers quickly saw that effect after going down 1-0 to the Nets, bouncing back to win three straight games, even after missing their best player, Joel Embiid, in Game 3 of the series.
Butler's shape-shifting role with this offense is a curious one, often blending into the background until it becomes time to pounce in the fourth quarter, when the Sixers need to force the action and take the fight to their opponents.
Tough, brash, and unapologetic, Butler has made a career out of being the big bad wolf, but one that only shows his fangs when the time is right, often resulting in controversy.
The 6-foot-7 forward has already hit a few game-winners in his brief time with the Sixers, likely aiming at a free agent contract that will likely be the biggest purse of his professional career.
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