All-Star Jimmy Butler has gone above and beyond since joining the Miami Heat.
As a matter of fact, ESPN’s Jalen Rose believes the forward is the NBA’s most underrated player due to the Heat’s sudden success since his arrival in Miami.
“Top four seed in the East,” Rose said when explaining how Butler has impacted the Heat. “Miami continues to outplay expectations. It’s not only the numbers with Butler. How about this? When he left the Bulls, they got worse. When he left Minnesota, they got worse. When they left the 76ers, they got worse.
“Who would have thought Jimmy Butler was going to leave Joel Embiid and Ben Simmons, go to Miami, team with Bam Adebayo, he becomes an All-Star. Duncan Robinson makes the three-point contest, Derrick Jones wins the Dunk Contest. And they’re in thick of things.”
There is no doubt success follows where ever Butler goes.
After Butler was sent from the Chicago Bulls to the Minnesota Timberwolves in 2017, he made it his mission to snap the Wolves’ 14-year playoff drought. He did just that by leading Minnesota to the 2018 playoffs.
Yet, the Wolves traded the disgruntled veteran to the Philadelphia 76ers at the beginning of the 2018-19 regular season. While the Wolves ended up missing the 2019 playoffs, Butler led the 76ers to Game 7 of the Eastern Conference semifinals.
Since Butler departed Philadelphia for Miami last summer, the Heat have became one of the best teams in the Eastern Conference after missing the 2019 postseason. Meanwhile, the disjointed 76ers have lagged behind the Heat in the standings.
Clearly, Butler impacts teams in tangible and intangible ways. On the court, he is averaging 20.2 points, 6.6 rebounds and 6.1 assists per game this season.
However, he’s also helped elevate and encourage numerous teammates as well. As a matter of fact, his teammates often gloat about the positive influence the journeyman has had on them.
There is no official timetable for when the 2019-20 season will resume.