Jimmy Butler makes retirement statement ahead of NBA Finals with Miami Heat

01 June 2023 , 23:24

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Jimmy Butler has pledged to play with the Miami Heat for the rest of his career (Image: Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)

Miami Heat forward Jimmy Butler has made a major statement by claiming that he will never play for another team in the NBA.

The 33-year-old has found his home in Miami after trading to the Heat in 2019, and has led them to the NBA Finals this season after a stunning playoff run. Butler has since picked up the nickname 'Playoff Jimmy' due to his prolific performances in the postseason, and he's now just a maximum of seven games away from winning his first-ever NBA Championship.

Butler was drafted 30th overall back in 2011 as he joined the Chicago Bulls, a team that held a fierce rivalry with the Heat at the time. But now Butler is so proud to play for the Heat that he never wants to wear another jersey again.

The 33-year-old briefly lost his way after leaving the Bulls in 2017, playing for both the Minnesota Timberwolves and the Philadelphia 76ers across two seasons. Butler then signed for the Heat in a four-team trade, and has never looked back since.

After losing in the Eastern Conference Finals last season Butler promised to get the Heat back there the following year - this time taking them all the way. He's delivered on his promise so far, and with Butler seeming like a man of his word the Heat fans will love his latest admission.

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"It’ll be the last jersey that I wear," Butler said when speaking to ESPN ahead of the finals. But the forward also opened up about how he was made to hate the Heat when being drafted by the Bulls initially.

Butler was made to hate the Heat and now he's a fan favourite (Matthew Stockman/Getty Images)

"When I’m coming into the league, the Heat used to beat the Bulls all the time when they had the Big 3, the Heatles, whatever you want to call them," Butler said. "So me getting drafted to the Bulls, we can’t like the Miami Heat.

"You can’t like D-Wade even though you went to the same school. Then you fast forward and I’m playing with D-Wade with the Bulls, I’m like, ‘This guy is not a bad guy.’ It was just [Tom Thibodeau] that kept hitting me upside my head. And now, full circle, it’ll be the last jersey that I wear."

The Heat have won three Championships throughout franchise history but one way or another it'll be a first whenever the latest NBA winner is crowned. The Denver Nuggets have never won an NBA Championship in their history, but the Heat could become the first ever eighth seed to go all the way.

Joseph McBride