The Miami Heat built a team in their image. The beauty of all of that is that… that also means they built the team in the image of Jimmy Butler.
Being a Miami Heat guy, before he ever was one of the Miami Heat’s guy, Jimmy Butler has always been the same dude, for the most part. He is no-nonsense, hard work, effort, all-out tenacity, and for every single minute of every single increment of action he’s on the floor.
That’s just how he’s put together. That thought led to another thought though.
Is Jimmy Butler playing in the best situation of his career? The answer is yes, but here’s why.
Follow us here. If you look back at who he’s played for in his career, you have the Chicago Bulls, the Minnesota Timberwolves, and the Philadelphia 76ers, before coming over to Miami.
Though he had talent around him in Chicago, a culture that he fit with under Thibs, and the comfort of liking it there, it wasn’t his team. It was Derrick Rose’s team and by the time it could become Jimmy’s, Thibs was on the way out.
The Miami Heat are built on their foundation and the back of Jimmy Butler, right now. He probably doesn’t mind though, as it’s the best situation he’s ever had.
Following him to Minnesota, Jimmy had the requisite talent beside him, in theory. However, because Thibs couldn’t create the culture that he wanted there, that situation continued to soak in the same mediocrity that it had been before they arrived and that it remains in today.
In Philadelphia, there was a peak talent at the top, Joel Embiid. However, we have since found out that everything Jimmy seemed to say about Ben Simmons in the press conferences, indirectly, was directly true.
Ben Simmons is his own worst enemy on the basketball court. Then there was also all of the stuff said about the culture that former head coach, Brett Brown, had allowed to foster there.
On top of the lack of accountability, it seems, that the organization had for it’s players, there was also all of that stuff. So, what does that mean for the Miami Heat?
Why is this the best situation he’s ever played in? Well, it’s simple.
Now, with as much or more talent than he’s ever had the privilege of playing beside and in an organization that mirrors his way of thinking, way of life, and approach to his business… Jimmy should be in heaven.
He is and he’s said it, in other ways, multiple times. The Miami Heat and Jimmy Butler were meant for each other, he knew it from the day he landed, and by bringing in the talent to play around him (not to mention one of his best buds and another Heat guy in Kyle Lowry), they continue to show him that they think the same of him.
That’s why Jimmy Butler’s playing in the best situation of his career.