Miami Heat star Jimmy Butler has been the man of the moment throughout this year’s postseason. As the NBA Finals near a thrilling conclusion, Butler will be expected to lead the Miami team back into contention following a Game 1 loss against the Denver Nuggets. The 33-year-old has displayed exemplary leadership this season, achieving the rare feat of leading an 8th seed to win the Eastern Conference. Butler has recently credited his efficiency as a leader to the tutelage of a few NBA veterans, including Heat legend Dwyane Wade. A few years ago, in an interview appearance on ‘Hot Ones‘ by First We Feast, the Heat star named a few players he has shared the court with, who helped ‘unlock his potential’ on basketball’s biggest stage.
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During a press conference after Game 1 of the NBA Finals, Butler credited a few NBA stars for honing his leadership qualities as a franchise player. “So many of my former teammates have shaped me into this “leader” that you see in front of you today… I got to give a shoutout to D-Wade because he has always told me about the culture here[in Miami] and how that fits to who I am,” he said. The 6’7 forward has also expressed his gratitude to players he has shared the court with over the years.
Jimmy Butler named the teammates who helped him ‘unlock his potential’
During a 2019 appearance on the ‘Hot Ones’ on the First We Feast YouTube channel, Butler was asked about his teammates who have helped him develop into the lethal weapon he is on the court today. Having played in some big franchises like the Chicago Bulls and the Philadelphia 76ers, the six-time All-Star had an extensive list of names to choose from. The list included names like Joel Embiid, Karl-Anthony Towns, and Udonis Haslem, among others.
However, Butler listed three names that might surprise a lot of fans. The Heat star shouted out Chicago Bulls veterans Luol Deng, Richard Hamilton, and Kirk Hinrich. Butler was drafted by the Bulls in 2011 and played there till 2017. These three Bulls stars helped shape him in his formative years into the fierce competitor he is today. During the interview, Butler said:
“Rip Hamilton was the absolute best in telling me the truth, every single day… He just wanted me to be the best player I can be, love him for that. And man, Kirk Hinrich, that guy-you talk about toughness! That sh*t inspired the heck out of me.”
The 2023 Eastern Conference MVP proceeded to list a few other players who impacted his career in different ways. Butler is widely known for exemplifying the toughness and the work ethic the iconic ‘Heat Culture’ stands for. This 2019 interview proves that Butler’s iron determination had spread its roots long before he moved to South Beach.
Butler once called Michael Jordan the GOAT
One of the most bizarre narratives of the 2023 NBA Finals has been the rumor that Jimmy Butler is MJ’s ‘long-lost son.’ There is no definitive evidence of the theory. However, it has gained a lot of traction on the Internet over the past few weeks.
Butler’s words on Jordan have done nothing but amplify the conspiracy theory. “As a basketball player, if you’re really really really good at your sport, you probably wanted to have something to do with the GOAT of basketball, that being Michael Jordan,” the former Timberwolves star had said in a 2018 interview. Apart from His Airness, Jimmy Buckets has also shown his fascination for players like Tracy McGrady.
The Miami Heat failed to win the NBA Championship against the LeBron James-led Lakers in the 2020 NBA Finals. Will Butler channel his inner Michael Jordan to bring the chip to Miami this year? Comment your thoughts below.
