The N.B.A.’s Eastern Conference is up for grabs, and a well-caffeinated Jimmy Butler has the Miami Heat primed to secure a premier seeding down the season’s stretch run. Miami reconstructed its roster in the off-season, most notably through the addition of point guard Kyle Lowry, and has pushed through a rash of injuries, to players including Butler and Bam Adebayo, to sit atop the conference standings.
Butler seems to have found a long-term home with the Heat after memorable stints and high-profile exits in Chicago, Minnesota and Philadelphia. In Miami, his characteristic blend of brashness and playfulness has been met with appreciation by a young roster sprinkled with a few battle-tested veterans.
Butler leads Miami in scoring, at 22 points per game, but describes himself as a non-scorer who does a lot of everything. He will probably be selected for his sixth All-Star team, but he lists nearly every other teammate as more deserving of a slot.
Butler recently spoke to The New York Times about the Heat’s season, how his game and leadership have evolved, and his deep coffee appreciation.
This interview has been condensed and edited for clarity.
Miami currently sits atop the Eastern Conference. What is it about this team that people didn’t see heading into the season?
I don’t think anybody could predict the amount of injuries we’ve had or the amount of readiness/preparedness that everybody would have if those injuries were to come to light like they did, but I just feel like everybody’s comfortable. Everybody believes in their talent and what they can do while they’re out there on the floor.
And then on top of everything else, everybody’s always looking to put each other in the best position, whether you’re a slasher, shooter, passer. I think we just got a nice group of guys that complement each other well.
How have you seen your own leadership approach evolve this season?
Just knowing how my role may change from game to game — for sure if Kyle’s not out there, because he is the primary ball handler. But even knowing when you really got to get Duncan [Robinson] going or if Tyler [Hero]’s got it going, you continually feed him, and you just watch these young guys grow. I feel like I’ve made my name, quote unquote, in this league 'and' now it is my job to help others become comfortable enough to make theirs.
You recently secured your 10th triple-double in Miami, breaking LeBron James’s franchise record. How has your overall game evolved in Miami these last couple seasons?
I think it speaks more to the individuals that I get to pass the ball to, because those are the guys that give me my assists — the guys that pitch the ball ahead for me, or give me open looks or set a great screen for me to attack downhill. That’s where a lot of my points come from, and then crashing the glass, getting on the offensive boards, my big boxing out. Whenever they’re down there battling, I get to come over to the top and get the rebound.
So, all of these triple-doubles, they definitely come from my teammates, then allowing me to do it. But more than anything, as long as they’re geared toward winning, I can care less if I pass [James’s record] or not. There’s one thing that I haven’t passed him in yet, and that’s the amount of championships he brought to this organization.
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