After losing the 2023 NBA Finals to the Denver Nuggets in five games, All-Star small forward Jimmy Butler told reporters that he still believes he’ll win a championship with the Miami Heat.
“It’s been great. I’ve had some helluva teammates come through and compete with me and give us the opportunity to win a championship, which I still believe, with everything in me, that we will do as a team here, as an organization, as a city in Miami,” Butler said.
“The four years have been great. It’s always great to be wanted and loved and appreciated,” Butler explained. “I don’t think that’s going to change. But for the time being, like I just said to Nick, I’m grateful, man, that we made it here. Came up short, but I’m blessed. I’m fortunate.”
Butler just finished his fourth season with the Heat. Miami made the NBA Finals in 2020, lost in the first round of the 2021 playoffs, lost in the Eastern Conference Finals in 2022 and reached the Finals again this year.
NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Jimmy Butler & Miami Heat Updates
Unfortunately for Butler, his Heat are 0-2 in the Finals against the Los Angeles Lakers and Nuggets. However, the swingman still loves his teammates.
“Probably how grateful I am to be able to compete with these guys,” Butler said. “You never know what the team is going to look like next year, the year after that. I’m just grateful. I learned so much. They taught me so much. I wish I could have got it done for these guys because they definitely deserve it. But the one thing I’m going to take from it is how grateful I am to be able to compete with them.”
NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Jimmy Butler & Miami Heat Updates
The Heat are expected to try to add a third star this offseason to give Butler and All-Star big man Bam Adebayo more help. The team has been linked to Kyrie Irving, Damian Lillard, Joel Embiid and Bradley Beal.
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