The Miami Heat sent a grand total of zero players to the All-Star game in the 2020-2021 season despite making the postseason and boasting some top-level talent on the roster. As the Heat watch the postseason continue from the couch and prepare for the coming basketball in the fall, it is time to speculate which players on the roster can contend for an All-Star spot next season?
And most importantly, what will it take for them to make the cut. There are three players on the Heat’s roster that should be making that star-studded push, but each needs very different results to reach the squad.
No matter what it’ll take for each though, it all starts with one guy. That person should be no secret.
Jimmy Butler is an established top player in the NBA. People know he is a blue-chip player that franchises can build around.
Multiple teams have built around him, resulting in playoff berths. He has also proven to step up in the big moments far more often than he withers.
And, he has the added value of playing exceptional basketball on both ends of the court. With his personal success established, Jimmy Buckets is no longer judged off stats alone but the wins and losses of his team.
Butler is now in a class of players that needs wins to prove his merits in a given season. Miami’s slow start and Butler’s injuries to start last season kept him off plenty, if not most, All-Star ballots.
Now, even for a healthy Butler, loading a stat sheet is not enough. He needs to guide his team to victories for a place on that roster.
Fortunately for Butler, his presence on the court often equates to winning. That’ll be enough to get the job done with just a little help from his team.