According to NBA insider Shams Charania of The Athletic and Stadium, the Miami Heat had a team meeting on January 30 and Jimmy Butler was “powerful” during the meeting.
The meeting worked, as the Heat snapped their seven-game losing streak yesterday by beating the Sacramento Kings.
Butler had a terrific game against the Kings. The swingman finished with 31 points, seven rebounds and six assists in 34 minutes while shooting 10-of-14 from the field, 2-of-3 from beyond the arc and 9-of-12 from the free-throw line. The Heat won by a final score of 115-106 to improve to 25-23 on the season.
NBA NEWS & RUMORS: Jimmy Butler, Miami Heat Updates
A six-time All-Star, Butler is averaging 21.4 points, 5.2 rebounds, 4.4 assists, 1.2 steals and 0.3 blocks this season while shooting 49.8% from the floor, 43.7% from 3 and 87.9% from the foul line. He’s 19th in the NBA in player efficiency rating (22.1).
“Just remember that we are very fortunate to have a job that we get to hoop, that we get to play before so many great fans,” Butler said after the Heat beat the Kings. “We lost control of that for a little bit, the sight that this isn’t as difficult. It could be a lot worse.”
The Heat are in seventh place in the Eastern Conference standings. They face the Washington Wizards tomorrow, a game Butler and Co. should win easily since the Wizards have the second-worst record in the East.
NBA NEWS & RUMORS: Jimmy Butler, Miami Heat Updates
Butler, who has played for the Chicago Bulls, Minnesota Timberwolves, Philadelphia 76ers and Heat, is making $45.2 million this season. The Marquette product will make $48.8 million next season and has a player option worth $52.4 million for the 2025-26 season. The Heat can sign Butler to an extension this offseason.
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