25. Jimmy Butler’s leading role in South Beach
Jimmy Butler made a tremendous first impression during his short time with the Philadelphia 76ers. His outgoing personality endeared him to the Wells Fargo Center and his penchant for timely buckets was exactly what the Sixers were looking for.
For all Philly offered Butler, a starring role in one of basketball’s best cities, it wasn’t enough for complete satisfaction, not while sharing the spotlight alongside Joel Embiid and Ben Simmons. Butler wanted his own show and no co-stars, and a sign-and-trade to the Miami Heat made that a reality.
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If not the Sixers, Miami is as good an organization to mesh with Butler as there is in the NBA. Butler puts in the work and expects the same from his teammates. On a team known for its grueling practices and disciplined training regimes, the former 30th overall pick finds himself amongst like-minded contemporaries.
Miami ranked 26th in points per game last season and 28th in crunch-time. Butler’s scoring average last season was its lowest since his third year, but with a pending uptick in minutes and shots, the four-time All-Star will have every opportunity to claim fame as the man who brought the Heat back into contention.