Though they won't be suiting up in the same colors this season, Miami Heat swingman Jimmy Butler had some motivational words for his former Sixers teammate, Joel Embiid.
Butler's message to Embiid for this season? “Continue to dominate.”
“That's my [guy],” Butler said via Anthony Chiang of the Miami Herald. “For real. And we do talk all the time. Even when I was traded here, I told him, ‘Continue to dominate. Continue to prove why you're the best player in this effing league.' I believe that, man.”
The Heat completed a four-team trade this offseason, which allowed them to sign Butler to a four-year, $142 million contract. Embiid, on the other hand, remained with the Sixers, where he's continuing to establish himself as one of the best big men in today's NBA.
Embiid has increased his level of production with each passing season. The 25-year-old Cameroonian native made 64 appearances with the Sixers during their 2018-19 regular season campaign (all starts), racking up averages of 27.5 points on 48.4 percent shooting from the field (30.0 percent from beyond the arc), 13.6 rebounds, 3.7 assists and 1.9 blocks in 33.7 minutes per outing. He missed 14 games after the All-Star break, including five of the final seven games, due to rest and injury.
Embiid reportedly lost 25 pounds over the summer, though he’s since added five pounds of muscle:
“I haven’t done anything differently,” Embiid said via SI. “I just try to eat the right way, cut out anything bad. I’ve just been extremely focused on what I have to do and I still have a long way to go. I’m not at my goal yet.”
Just how well Embiid will fare in the coming season remains to be seen, but it's clear that Jimmy Butler is pulling for his friend and former teammate.
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