From dragging an eighth seed to the Finals to legendary triple-doubles, Jimmy Butler revitalized a directionless franchise and cemented a remarkable legacy among the Miami Heat's all-time greats.
MIAMI, Fla. – Despite a sour ending to his six-year tenure, the Miami Heat should still retire Jimmy Butler’s No. 22 jersey.
Although Andrew Wiggins currently wears it, that doesn’t completely rule out the possibility. Butler’s great contributions to the Heat deserve recognition, especially when it’s all set and done. Before arriving in the summer of 2019, the organization reached the playoffs just twice in five seasons (from 2014-15 to 2018-19).
The Heat didn’t have much of a direction. 11-time All-Star and Hall of Famer Chris Bosh’s career was cut short because of blood clots; franchise legend Dwyane Wade returned for a two-year stint before retiring, and Hassan Whiteside’s production was falling off, especially after signing a four-year, $98.4 million contract in the summer of 2016.
Change was desperately needed and Butler answered the call.
After completing a sign-and-trade with the Philadelphia 76ers, the two-way forward would change the Heat’s trajectory. In his first season, Butler led the organization to its first NBA Finals since the 2013-14 season. However, injuries to Goran Dragic and Bam Adebayo had some effect on the series outcome.
The Los Angeles Lakers won the Larry O’Brien trophy in six games, but Butler’s resilience was on full display. In Game 3, he logged a 40-point triple-double, including 11 rebounds, 13 assists, two steals, and two blocks. Fast forward to Game 5: a 35-point triple-double, including 12 rebounds, 11 assists, five steals, and a block.
An iconic photo of Butler exhausted and catching his breath on the barriers close to the basket was a clear representation of what he delivered on the court during the series.
In the 2022 playoffs, the veteran All-Star had a handful of standout performances, but none compare to Game 6 against the Boston Celtics at TD Garden. Butler, in 46 minutes, finished with 47 points, nine rebounds, eight assists, four steals, and a block to force a Game 7 in the Eastern Conference Finals. He shared a resemblance to what LeBron James did in 2012 in that same building.
After the 2022-23 regular season, the Heat survived two Play-In Tournament games to make the playoffs as an eighth seed. However, once they were in, Butler knew what time it was. The Heat took a 2-1 series lead over the No. 1 seed Milwaukee Bucks, then the playoff riser took things up a notch. In Game 4, at Miami, Butler scored 56 points, then 42 in Game 5 to close out the series at the Fiserv Forum.
The Heat became the sixth team in league history to beat a No. 1 as an eighth seed. Butler led them to another NBA Finals appearance, but the lack of size on the roster led to another shortcoming in a five-game series against the Denver Nuggets.
Despite never having the most talented supporting cast, the five-time All-NBA selectee never publicly complained. Butler gave every Heat teammate an opportunity and installed confidence in them. Although no championships came of it, a jersey retirement is well deserved.
Will the organization do it, given how things ended? There’s currently no telling. The wound might still be fresh, but once healed, perhaps an eye-to-eye is possible.
Anthony Aguirre covers the Miami Hurricanes and Miami Heat for Roundtable Sports. Contact info for tips/info: [email protected] & 305-987-3290 | Follow on Instagram/X: @AnthonyA_Sports
