NBA Rumors: Western Conference coach doesn’t see Miami Heat winning a chip with Jimmy Butler as their best player
An anonymous Western Conference coach thinks the Miami Heat cannot win a championship with Jimmy Butler leading their charge. Butler has been with the team since 2019. He led the team to the NBA finals and a conference finals appearance during his first three years with the franchise.
Butler has been the Heat's best player and their #1 option during that stretch. Nothing has changed in that regard in his fourth year with the team. However, Heavy.com's Sean Deveney spoke to an anonymous coach who thinks the six-time All-Star should be playing second fiddle to Bam Adebayo.
“I’ve thought, even going back to 2020 when they were in the Finals in the bubble, that the only way they can win a championship is if Bam Adebayo is their best player,” the coach told Deveney.
The anonymous coach's opinion on Jimmy Butler and the Miami Heat comes off as a surprise. Butler has frequently proved his critics wrong by leading by example. He hasn't produced MVP-caliber numbers during the regular season, but when it comes to the playoffs, Butler has played like a top-ten player.
The All-Star forward averaged 22.2, 6.5 rebounds, 6.0 assists, and 2.0 steals per game during the 2020 playoffs. He improved his numbers in the NBA Finals that year, producing 26.2 points, 8.3 rebounds, 9.8 assists, and 2.2 steals per game.
Jimmy Butler and the Heat's 2021 playoff run didn't go according to plan. They faltered against the eventual champions, the Milwaukee Bucks, and got swept in four games in their first-round series.
Butler made a strong comeback last season. He led the Heat to the #1 seed in the East and a conference finals berth. Butler averaged a career-high 27.4 points, 7.4 rebounds, 4.6 assists, and 2.1 steals in the 2022 playoffs.
He single-handedly forced a seven-game series against the Boston Celtics, bagging 47 points in the elimination Game 6 and 35 points in Game 7. Butler held the keys to the Heat going into the finals as he took the final shot for his team.
However, his 3-point attempt rimmed out, ending the Heat's season. However, it was a monumental effort as Miami wasn't at full strength. PJ Tucker left the game injured after playing 17 minutes, while Tyler Herro, who was dealing with a groin injury, played only seven minutes.
Jimmy Butler will likely remain Miami Heat's go-to option
The Miami Heat have tremendous faith in Jimmy Butler as one of their franchise cornerstones. Their decision to extend his contract in the summer of 2021 until the 2025-26 NBA season indicates that. They believe Butler is the right man to lead them to title success alongside Bam Adebayo.
His leadership in their 2020 and 2022 playoff runs explains why the Heat have faith in Butler. Despite the noise surrounding his ability to guide the team to glory, the former Bulls star has continued to deliver for the Heat when needed.
Also read: “We’re going to win the f***ing championship!” - Jimmy Butler pushes back against doubters
His consistency has allowed Adebayo to develop his game over the last three years and become integral to the Heat's setup. Adebayo, 25, is still finding his feet as he leans towards taking over the torch from Butler, 33.
Jimmy Butler hasn't lost a step and looks as lethal as ever in year 12. He is averaging a team-high 21.6 points, 7.1 rebounds, and 6.2 assists per game this season.
Meanwhile, Adebayo has produced 19.1 points and 9.4 rebounds per game. He has picked up his scoring lately, but he doesn't seem ready yet to take over from Butler as the No. 1 option.
Also read: Jimmy Butler on his game-winning defensive play on Devin Booker: "I knew I had to get my hand up on one of em"