“Sometimes it’s Miley Cyrus, Others it’s Rick Ross”: Jimmy Butler’s Teammate Shares his Erratic Pre-Game Music Choices

The performances Jimmy Butler is putting up in the 2023 NBA Playoffs are beyond extraordinary. He has willed his eighth-seeded team to the Eastern Conference Finals by knocking off top-seeded teams one after the other. And out of a multitude of things the world has to offer, his teammates have attributed his performances to his erratic pre-game music choices of his.

The Butler-led Miami Heat managed to secure a berth in the NBA playoffs through the play-in tournament. What transpired next has left the NBA world in a state of utter disbelief. The Miami team announced their presence by defeating the title favorites Milwaukee Bucks in the first round. They followed it with a series win against the New York Knicks and are on the verge of defeating the Celtics.

Jimmy Butler and his pre-game music choices

Arguably the leader, Jimmy Butler’s performances define the outcome of the Miami Heat games. His effort and intensity on the court are unparalleled. For obvious reasons, you’d think the man has some sort of super complicated ways to get into the right mentality. However, the answer to that question from his teammate Max Strus will have you questioning absolutely everything. Here is what he said:

“It honestly surprises me that whatever he plays before the game, gets him going. Sometimes it’s Miley Cyrus, sometimes it’s Justin Bieber, sometimes it’s Rick Ross. Whatever he needs to keep doing what he’s doing, we’re all here for it.”

Jimmy gets the aux in the Heat locker room 🎶 pic.twitter.com/kts22P9bGT

— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) May 23, 2023

“It honestly surprises me that whatever he plays before the game, gets him going. Sometimes it’s Miley Cyrus, sometimes it’s Justin Bieber, sometimes it’s Rick Ross. Whatever he needs to keep doing what he’s doing, we’re all here for it.”

Much like on the basketball court where they let him do his thing, the team apparently lets him pick the music too. On one end, considering how wonky Butler’s tastes are, that choice can probably irk teammates at times. But then again, when your superstar is averaging 30 points per game in the playoffs, a dose of teen music seems like a small price to pay. Along with 30 points, he is also averaging 6.9 rebounds, 5.6 assists, 2.1 steals, and 0.8 blocks per game.

That being said, Jimmy’s music choices, or rather the wide scope of it are to be questioned. Ranging from American rappers to pop artists, from teen music to hip-hop, his teammates are left guessing every single day.

Skip called out Jimmy Butler for vibing to Taylor Swift.

If you are wondering about Jimmy’s music being a one-time playoff thing, you are wrong. In 2015, Skip Bayless called out Jimmy Butler for listening to Taylor Swift on the show ‘First Take’. When asked to explain himself on the show, here is what Jimmy had to say in his defense:

“Her music is very catchy. Don’t judge me. I think that it’s something that I could listen to before every game, because its upto beat. It used to be country and I am a big country fan. It switched over to pop, so I dance and I sing to it, and I end up over the internet.”

It’s safe to say that as long as Jimmy is playing an elite brand of basketball, no one will dare to judge him. With the Heat needing one more win to make the NBA Finals, his teammates are very much ready to support his choices, no questions asked.