Gary Payton is no stranger to coach-player conflict, and he could tell early on whether a coach and a star player could have good chemistry. When Jimmy Butler joined the Miami Heat in 2019, "The Glove" was sure "Buckets" had found the perfect coach in Erik Spoelstra.
As a leader himself during his playing years, Payton strongly believes that coaches should give their players the freedom to express themselves on the court. For GP, one of the main reasons why Spoelstra is an ideal fit for Butler is his ability to understand and adapt to each player's unique style of play.
Having watched how Butler played in Chicago, Minnesota, and Philly, Payton reckoned that Jimmy is the type of player who performs at his best when not following a rigid system, which is something Coach Spo does very well with his players.
"He picks the team that is gonna best fit him. See now, it fits him, now, they saying, 'Here, it's yours. We're not gonna say anything to you. Let us see what you're gonna do.' He goes into practice, he can scream and shout and everything, and the young kids go up and leave with them and don't do anything. And Spoels let him do it, and that's why he's feeling so comfortable, and he's playing different," Payton said of Butler in 2019.
"When a guy have a coach who just say you'll be the coach and I don't have nothing to say to you, you play for that coach. That's a players' coach, and that's what he's doing," he continued.
Gary could Jimmy would be happy in South Beach
When Butler took his talents to South Beach, he brought a reputation as a hard-working and passionate player. But apart from what he could do on the court, "Buckets" also bonded well with Spoelstra and his Heat teammates.
GP saw this connection as evident both on and off the court, as Jimmy and his teammates are often seen joking around, cheering each other on, and genuinely enjoying each other's company. Payton noted that besides finding a great coach in Spoelstra, Butler also has found a real feeling of belonging with the Heat as an organization.
"That's why he's feeling so comfortable and you don't have no problems with him," Payton added of Butler. "You see him when they're taking pictures, they're doing pyramids. He's having fun!"
Spo thinks Jimmy is a max player
With Butler and Spoelstra at the helm, the Heat made it to the NBA Finals once and the conference finals twice. They were eliminated in the first round of the 2023-24 season, but there has been no indication that Miami is letting go of him.
In fact, "Buckets" will reportedly demand a two-year, $113 million contract extension from the Heat this summer. He hopes to land the maximum extension possible under his current contract, which is a three-year, $146.4 million extension that he signed this season.
While nothing is concrete at this point, we could already have an idea about what Spoelstra's take is on Jimmy's contract. For Coach Spo, Butler epitomizes the essence of a max player as he has showcased his value on and off the court since his first day in Miami.
"I think that is what young players should learn coming into the league is what max player truly means. It's not about stats, and it's not about that final number on the box score. It's not whatever 2k numbers you can get. It's about how your team functions and if it's winning because of a player," Spoelstra once said.
"There is no debate about this, he is having an incredible impact on our winning on our bottom line, and that is why we chased him as a max player," he added. "That should be the definition from here and out, but It's clouded, and too often, it becomes about stats and people that pile up a bunch of stats. Even at a younger age, but they are empty stats, and they don't impact winning."
Both Erik and Jimmy are underrated
Spoelstra's track record of success in developing players and maximizing their potential has been undeniable. By fostering a culture of trust and mutual respect in Miami, he creates an environment where players feel empowered to take ownership of their game, which aligns perfectly with Butler's competitive spirit and desire to win.
The quality of his work has also been incredible, having led the Heat to four conference titles and two NBA championships. Despite that, Spoelstra surprisingly has never won a single NBA Coach of the Year award to his name. The same thing could be said about Butler, who, despite proving that he could do pretty much everything for his team, has yet to earn the recognition he deserves.
Related: Jimmy Butler says it would have been a different story if he didn't get hurt: "If I was playing, Boston would be at home, New York damn be sure would be fu*** at home"
Most Popular
Comments / 0