Miami Heat’s Erik Spoelstra: Jimmy Butler ‘needs me, I need him’
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Jimmy Butler of the Miami Heat speaks to the media during media day at Kaseya Centre on Sept 30.
PHOTO: AFP
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MIAMI – Entering their sixth year together in the National Basketball Association (NBA), Miami Heat coach Erik Spoelstra believes that a breakthrough in his relationship with Jimmy Butler is imminent.
That thesis is based almost entirely on longevity and mutual need.
“When you get to that many years together, there’s a lot of unspoken understanding,” Spoelstra said at Miami’s media day earlier in the week.
“He’s at a point now where he needs me to really coach this team at a high level. He needs me to coach him at a high level and push him to higher levels. And I need him to be at his highest level as a player and a leader.”
Butler, who turned 35 on Sept 14, averaged 20.8 points – his lowest scoring output since his first season in Miami in 2019-20 – 5.3 rebounds and 5.0 assists per game in 2023-24.
Attention will be on his contract after Heat president Pat Riley, in his season-closing remarks in May, shrugged off the eligible window for a contract extension.
Butler is owed US$48.8 million (S$63.7 million) this season and holds a player option for 2025-26. He is reportedly seeking a two-year extension worth at least US$110 million.
The forward, who had previously sported “emo” hair and dreadlocks, arrived at Miami’s media day and met reporters for a shorter window than usual, keeping the focus on the court.
“I’m here, normal hair, no shenanigans,” Butler said.
He also did not react much when asked about Riley’s comments suggesting that he needs to play more games.
“Of course, I always wanna hoop. I always wanna play, always want to compete with my guys,” Butler said. “I hear him. I see what he’s talking about. I’m going to go out there and play as many games as I can.”
Spoelstra said Butler focused his extended off-season on recovering from a knee injury that kept him out of the first-round play-off series loss to eventual champions Boston Celtics.
“He’s in a good place coming into camp. He’s prepared himself,” the coach added. “We were in contact. What I said in the last meeting (with Butler), was about this opportunity.”
Spoelstra also called on All-Star Bam Adebayo to “move in sync” with him and Butler to push Miami to their potential.
Adebayo showed marked improvement as an outside shooter late last season and during the Paris Olympics.
The centre said tweaks of the offence can make it more challenging for teams to defend against Miami this season, which begins on Oct 22.
“Spacing the floor makes life easier for Jimmy, Terry (Rozier), Tyler (Herro) to get to the basket, and also myself,” Adebayo said. “Just opening up the floor.” REUTERS
