The Miami Heat are known for being tough and hard working. Keeping the “OG”, Udonis Haslem, while adding “Tuff Juice”, Caron Butler, is certainly on brand.
The Miami Heat made a few noteworthy moves over the weekend. It was announced that not only would they be bringing the Captain and the OG, Udonis Haslem, back into the mix but they would also be returning another familiar face to the organization.
Along with Udonis Haslem for his 18th season with the Miami Heat as a player, former first-round draft pick for the Miami Heat, Caron Butler, will join the Miami Heat as an assistant coach. I couldn’t think of a more perfect pair, UD and Tuff Juice.
There seems to be a lot of chatter surrounding Haslem’s return for this upcoming season. Let me clear it up for all of you.
His presence is more than worth that slot on the roster. Everything that we are thinking as fans, he’s able to say it to his teammates.
The obligatory bad words at times that we are screaming at our television sets because they are playing awfully or aren’t playing like they get it out there at times, Udonis Haslem can say those things to them. And you know what?
The Miami Heat are a team built on their principles. That’s why it makes perfect sense to bring UD back for his 18th and Caron Butler in for his first as an assistant.
They listen. That’s a huge part of the reason why he’s there.
He is an example, leads by example, but can and isn’t afraid to lead vocally either. Case, point, and verdict.
🗣️ UD giving the Heat a pep talk pic.twitter.com/JWQBGLkVfk
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) October 3, 2020
Not only is this what he brings to the team because it’s who he is, but it’s also because it’s what this team needs. We shouldn’t hear an awful lot more of this pointless criticism and if we do, stay out of the boxscore and watch the actual team, you need to pay closer attention.
Caron Butler is also a walking talking breathing personification of the Miami Heat Culture and the epitome of everything it stands for. It doesn’t matter what you did yesterday, as long as you are willing to come in ready to work as hard as you can today and every day moving forward to be better.
That’s literally the story of Caron’s life. It’s seemingly been his approach to basketball the whole while and should continue to shine through in his duties as an assistant coach.
He should be a very valuable asset to this team, coaching staff, and organization. I can’t wait to see him get to work and begin to influence this team.
When you think about Heat Culture, these two guys fit it like a glove. Tuff Juice has always been and carried things like family, so we can just officially agree that he is now back where he belongs.
As far as the other guy, Udonis Haslem, he is “the Miami Heat, the Miami Heat is” him. His words, not ours.