The Miami Heat came up just short in their bid for the NBA Finals. Just a little bit more on Jimmy Butler‘s final shot attempt with seconds to go in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Finals and the Miami Heat’s story is a different one on the eve of the 2022 NBA Finals.
It was not to be though. That happens sometimes and though it hurts no less, it’s all the setbacks that go into accomplishing something great that makes accomplishing a said thing that much sweeter.
That’s a theme here today. Things that weren’t supposed to happen, but lead to something that eventually ends up in the territory of greatness.
Not only is that the case with the shot, but it is the case with the guy who took that shot. Even though he wasn’t able to lead his team to the ultimate prize this season, Jimmy Butler has still shown so much as an individual player, hopefully, garnering a new level of respect from the world and basketball community.
The Miami Heat were inches away from an NBA Finals berth. They didn’t get it, but with Jimmy Butler in tow, you still have faith that a title is possible.
Here’s the thing though. It wasn’t by chance.
Jimmy Butler didn’t just wake up one day and was the player that he has become. Just like the Miami Heat won’t wake up one day and the path to winning a title with this group will be clear.
Like they will have to do from this point on, Jimmy worked for it. That’s why you feel comfortable that they will achieve that during his time at some point.
Here is evidence pointing to a huge part of why you feel that way.
Jimmy Butler: self-made superstar. @jj_redick and @JCrossover on their appreciation for the Heat leader: https://t.co/pqXWbH6j6y pic.twitter.com/WOb0jpf1mE
— TheOldMan&TheThree (@OldManAndThree) May 30, 2022
In the words of the great JCrossover, Jamal Crawford, Jimmy Butler is a “self-made” superstar. Here is the part that really stands out.
"He wasn’t the one who was a prodigy coming up from middle school or high school to college and so forth. He, kind of, made his way."
That stands out for a few reasons. The first is because you know that he won’t quit.
The second is because you know that he understands that it’s not supposed to be easy, while that will only motivate a guy like him because it has. And though there may be more, this is the one that takes the cake.
Jimmy has faced adversity and an uphill climb to make it this far, only to succeed. So, though you’ve never seen him win an NBA Title, you know he’s built for it.
You know that he’s had to fight this type of fight all of his life—only to come this far in success. That, alone, should let you know that, not only, is Jimmy Butler capable of doing the undoable, but he’s made it a routine thing to actually do it.