- Report: Miami Heat Provide Huge Update on Jimmy Butler’s Availability Monday vs. Toronto Raptors
- Video: Duncan Robinson and Tyler Herro Seen Going at It in Shooting Competition During Miami Heat Practice
- Jae Crowder Indicates Jimmy Butler Missed Miami Heat Practice Because He’s in Quarantine
- Report: Jimmy Butler Excused From Miami Heat Practice, Status for Monday’s Game Unknown
- Dwyane Wade Reacts to Kelly Olynyk Joining Him in Miami Heat History Books
- Video: Jimmy Butler Yells ‘F–k You Bam’ Live on Air After Miami Heat-Denver Nuggets Game
- Video: Jimmy Butler Gets Denied by NBA Officials as He Tries to Play With Blank Jersey
- Report: Miami Heat Announce New Starting Lineup for 1st Seeding Game Inside NBA Bubble
- Report: Denver Nuggets to Be Without 3 Starters vs. Miami Heat
- Dwyane Wade Clowns LeBron James for His Defense on Paul George and Kawhi Leonard in Season Restart
Derrick Jones Jr. Reiterates Desire to Guard Opponent’s Best Player Every Single Night
- Updated: July 30, 2020
Earlier this season, it was reported that Miami Heat forward Derrick Jones Jr. had regularly asked to guard the opposing team’s best player.
It appears that the 23-year-old high-flyer is doubling down on his desire to be tasked with the toughest defensive assignment.
Heat's Derrick Jones Jr. told me earlier this season that he has asked Butler, on multiple occasions, to allow him to often defend top opposing wing during Jones' minutes and Butler has been receptive. Jones reiterates today he wants to "guard the best player every night"
— Barry Jackson (@flasportsbuzz) July 30, 2020
Jones Jr. has showcased many times this season his potential to be one of the team’s best defenders. As a matter of fact, advanced stats have illustrated just how valuable the young player has been on that end of the floor.
His defensive win shares, the stat that estimates the number of wins contributed by a player due to his defense, this season is 1.6. That ranks third in the team. The two players ahead of him are Bam Adebayo and Jimmy Butler, two of the Heat’s best defensive players.
It remains to be seen though how much playing time Jones Jr. will receive during the seeding games and postseason in the NBA’s bubble in Orlando, Fla. The coaching staff would likely place veterans Andre Iguodala and Jae Crowder ahead of him in the rotation because of their playoff experience.
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