Jimmy Butler has displayed a willingness to be an unselfish star thus far in his Miami Heat career. Based on recent comments, it looks like he plans on using that unselfishness to get rookie Kendrick Nunn paid.
Nunn has gotten off to a historically strong start in his NBA career, and following Miami’s win over the Atlanta Hawks, Butler asserted that he is going to help Nunn earn a big contract.
From last night — Jimmy Butler on Nunn: "I heard about the kid, I've watched film on him, I know what he likes to do as a player. I want him to keep doing that. I always tell people all the time, my job is to help win and to help get guys big pay days. He's on his way to one."
— Anthony Chiang (@Anthony_Chiang) November 1, 2019
It’s an incredible attitude for a star player to have, but Nunn has not appeared to need any help to earn a future payday so far this season.
Through five games, Nunn is averaging a team-high 22.4 points per game on 51.8 percent shooting from the field and 48.4 percent shooting from deep.
At first, his production seemed somewhat unsustainable. Now, as the Heat wrap up their second week of the 2019-20 season, it is starting to look as though they may have found a historic diamond in the rough.
As for Butler, he has gotten off to a solid start since missing Miami’s first three games due to the birth of his child. Through his first two games of the season, he is averaging 13.0 points, 7.0 rebounds and 6.5 assists per game.
Nunn entered the NBA as an undrafted rookie out of Oakland University. He spent time in the G League last season before the Heat picked him up last spring.
If he keeps up his current numbers, it won’t be a question of whether or not Nunn deserves a big payday. The question will be whether or not the Heat can afford him.
