There should be no doubt about Jimmy Butler’s position on the Mount Rushmore at Miami Heat. With Dwyane Wade clearly ranked as one of the Heat’s best players, some would say Butler and LeBron James are interchangeable next. The fact that Butler has done so much while receiving less shows his impact on winning and overall greatness.
Unlike the “Big Three” era of more than a decade ago, Butler has repeatedly helped undermanned and underpowered Heat teams reach the NBA Finals. Some outlets noted that his free-agent move to South Florida in 2019 was not a wise move, arguing that he and the team might never make it out of the first round of the playoffs. Instead, Butler has put the franchise on his back to reach two NBA Finals and one Game 7 of an Eastern Conference Finals over a five-year span.
Shortly after Miami’s participation in the 2023 edition, The Athletic editor John Hollinger had this to say in an article about Butler: “He is among the best players of his era, an automatic Hall of Famer and, at the very least, one of the 100 greatest to ever play the game.”
To put it in context, this season Butler managed to finish eighth in the playoffs, averaging nearly 30 points per game, including an explosive 56 points against the top-seeded Milwaukee Bucks in the first round. He now owns the fourth-most prolific playoff game in NBA history.
Despite the obvious reasons for a future Hall of Fame spot, Butler himself would agree that he needs to win a title to pad his resume. Given his age, at 35, there isn’t much room for a dynasty or even a few titles at this point. But one title would be enough to make him a certified NBA legend.
Unfortunately, time is running out for the Heat. Butler isn’t getting any younger and is coming off a season-ending knee injury. The 2024-25 season could potentially be his last chance to capitalize on that championship window before he begins to decline. However, with a new season comes a clean sheet.
This core of Butler, Bam Adebayo, Tyler Herro and Terry Rozier needs a healthy season and a playoff run to maximize this era of Heat basketball. Talent, depth and coaching are clearly everything is thereIt’s just about being available to build the right cohesion and prove their talents on the field.
As great as the Butler era was, that elusive championship ring remains the only accolade that completes his impressive tenure with the Heat.
