On Tuesday, the Miami Heat can finally showcase their superstar acquisition of the summer when Jimmy Butler takes the court for the first time during the 2019-20 regular season.
Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra was ecstatic to have his star player back on the practice floor after Butler left the team for personal reasons last week. With the eight-year veteran back during shootaround, Spoelstra noted an uptick in his team’s energy.
Butler was ruled out of the Heat’s season opener, then missed the next two games to witness the birth of his daughter. A few days later, he posted a message about family on his personal Instagram account.
The presence of the four-time All-Star is excellent news for the team as it faces the Atlanta Hawks tonight. The Hawks sport a similar 2-1 record as the Heat, with both teams looking to continue their winning ways with a victory at AmericanAirlines Arena.
With the red-hot shooting of sophomore sensation Trae Young (34.0 points per game this season), the Hawks could prove to be a handful for the Heat. Butler’s addition to the roster should give Miami an added boost both offensively and defensively.