Miami Heat All-Star Jimmy Butler has kept himself busy since the regular season was suspended, drinking wine and working out.
During an Instagram Live chat, former teammates Dwyane Wade and Udonis Haslem discussed Butler joining the Heat during the offseason based on a recommendation from Wade.
“You told me he was crazy,” Haslem said, “but you ain’t tell me he was loco.”
Butler and Wade never played together in Miami, but they were teammates during Wade’s short stint as a member of the Chicago Bulls from 2016 to 2017.
“I tried to warn ya’ll,” said Wade of Butler. “I said listen, ‘He’s a Miami Guy all the way through and through.’ He crazy as hell.”
During his introductory press conference, Butler told reporters that Wade played a key role in convincing him to join the Heat.
“No. 3 (Wade) was like, ‘This Culture fits you,'” Butler told reporters at the time. “It’s been great. Everybody here wants everyone to be better. To be great.
“I’ve seen it over the years how the fans embraced Wade and I wanted to be a part of it. I want to make that happen again. … I just want to pick up where he left off.”
Butler was traded to the Minnesota Timberwolves in 2017 and led the team to its first playoff appearance in 14 years.
He was traded to Philadelphia in 2018 and helped the 76ers advance to the Eastern Conference semifinals, where they were defeated by the Toronto Raptors in seven games.
Butler signed with the Heat as a free agent during the offseason and led the team to the fourth-best record in the Eastern Conference before the regular season was suspended.