Jimmy Butler of the Miami Heat is one of the most perplexing superstars in the NBA. Outside of maybe Kawhi Leonard, Butler might be the weirdest star player in the league.
He doesn’t necessarily care about the money, accolades, and lavish lifestyle. All he wants to do is play basketball for the Heat and win a championship.
It’s wild to think about how Butler’s reputation went from that of a schoolyard bully to one of the most respected stars in the NBA. His time in Miami has turned him into just that.
The fact that he landed with the Heat wasn’t a coincidence, either. Butler knew exactly where he wanted to be back in 2019, and he wasn’t afraid to say it.
In a recent interview, Bernie Lee, Butler’s agent, talked about his initial free agency meeting with the Heat in 2019. If one keeps the previous “doesn’t care about money” comment in mind, his actions won’t be as shocking as they actually are.
According to Lee, Butler came out and told Pat Riley that he was coming to Miami. No negotiations, no discussions with his agent, and no guaranteed amount of money. He knew what he wanted and he came out and said it.
"“We were like eight minutes into our meeting with them and I had my head turned. I think I was talking to Andy [Elisburg] or [Erik Spoelstra], and he was talking to Pat [Riley] and Pat said something about identifying pieces for the Heat. Then the words come out of Jimmy’s mouth, ‘No, it’s OK. I’m in. I’m coming.’"
Butler had no cares in the world; all he wanted was to play for the Miami Heat. It may not be the best business plan, but it all ended up working out for the best.
In addition, the only thing Butler wants to accomplish is winning a championship in Miami. His own personal achievements mean absolutely nothing to him.
Lee shared another story about when he tried to tell Butler that he was named to the All-NBA Third Team last year. Based on his response, it’s pretty clear that Butler couldn’t care less.
"“When Jimmy receives a personal accolade, it’s literally impossible to call him and tell him that he’s achieved this accolade. When I called him to tell him this year that he made All-NBA, I got the word ‘all’ out of my mouth and he hung up the phone on me. Like, he doesn’t care.”"
That has to be the most “Jimmy Butler” response one can think of. Some players play for selfish reasons, but Butler is as far from that type of player as one can get.
He is probably the least selfish player, and person in the NBA. He wanted to play for a team that would respect him for who he is, and he found the perfect fit with the Miami Heat.
All that’s left to do for Butler is to bring a championship to Miami. If he can do that, he might legitimately go down as one of the all-time greats in the city.