Miami Heat forward Jimmy Butler is used to taking full advantage of the offseason.
This summer, he had more time than he wanted due to the Heat’s early playoff exit. Butler apparently wrapped up his offseason last week with a tour of China as part of his partnership with sportswear company Li-Ning.
The video features all sorts of cool moments of Butler interacting with Chinese fans. He gives them gifts. He plays dominoes. He even participated in pickup games, one with adults and one with kids (watch out for the monster block).
Butler may be headed to New York to cheer on his friend Carlos Alcaraz at the U.S. Open, but the move to full-fledged basketball is already here. Butler has a lot to prove in what is his most important season with the Heat.
Last year, the Heat disappointed by making the play-in tournament a season after reaching the NBA Finals. The end of the season was even more disappointing for fans. With Butler and Terry Rozier injured, they were easily defeated by the eventual champions, the Boston Celtics. The Heat lost every game by at least 14 points, including 118-84 in the deciding Game 5.
There’s no doubt that Butler has been working hard in recent months. That’s only going to intensify as September approaches.
Butler has said repeatedly that he wants to bring a title back to Miami. This is the start of what could be his last chance to do so.
Shandel Richardson is the editor of Miami Heat On SI. You can contact him at [email protected]
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