It’s his team, he’s the “guy”
One of the common narratives that have followed Jimmy Butler around over the past few seasons is that he is a “cancer” or “team and locker room killer”. While that isn’t true, there is another narrative that has also followed him around. This is the one that says he wants to be the guy, or that he wants to be the leader or frontman on a team.
In Miami, he is the guy. While there are vets, like Goran Dragic and Udonis Haslem, that could step to him if they saw fit or have an issue with something to discuss it or talk it out with him, he has a certain level of NBA clout and superiority over the rest of the roster.
While UD is the only player with titles and while Goran is as accomplished a veteran as Jimmy Butler is, Butler is the unquestioned leader of this team. If the shot clock was winding down and the Miami Heat have one shot to take that will decide whether they win or lose, there is a 50 percent chance that he will be the one taking that shot.
Based on what we have seen thus far in the preseason, there is a 25 percent chance that there will be someone else taking the shot, with strong consideration being given to Dion Waiters, Meyers Leonard, and especially rookie sensation Tyler Herro based on their abilities to shoot the three. There is also a 25 percent chance that he gives it up to someone else other than himself because the defense is taking his look away.
Knowing that Jimmy Butler is more about team success than his own individual success, you have to prescribe to the notion that he will make the best play for the team in that type of situation. Regardless of how the particular possession finishes though, he will be the first option or look. This is the last reason why he won’t regret his choice, because he will the guy for this Miami Heat team.
Say what you will about all of the factors surrounding this situation. The money, the offensive opportunity with the team, his status with the team, or the opportunity for this team to win titles, at the end of the day, he fully knew and embraced what he was signing up for, based on the aforementioned reasons above. This is why Jimmy Butler won’t regret his decision to join the Heat.