It’s no secret that star Jimmy Butler’s impact on the Miami Heat is well-known, but his influence is now being recognized league-wide.
NBA analyst Brian Windhorst of ESPN ranked Butler as one of the most important people in the NBA for the upcoming season on The Hoop Collective.
“I would say Jimmy Butler, another player who is entering the final year of his contract, seems to have had brief discussions with the Heat about a contract extension,” Windhorst said. “So Jimmy is very motivated to have a big year, he’s 35 years old. The Heat finished eighth the last two years and both years were marred by injuries. Their big investment, Tyler Herro, had a lot of injuries during that stretch.”
As Windhorst pointed out, the six-time All-Star is more motivated than ever. Butler is looking to prove he deserves a max contract extension despite the considerable mileage he’s logged, especially since his time with the Chicago Bulls.
“It’s fertile ground for Jimmy to have a big year to try to get one last big contract from the Heat,” Windhorst shared. “The Heat has shown all season long that they’re capable of having a good season. [Pat] Riley years where they think it’s time and they will pay the players.
The decision isn’t solely up to Miami management, as Butler could decide to move elsewhere next offseason.
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Anthony Pasciolla works as a contributing writer for Miami Heat On SI. You can contact him at [email protected] or follow him on X @AnthonyPasci.
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