Jimmy Butler reiterates retirement plan and NBA Championship belief

20 July 2023 , 16:52

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Jimmy Butler and Pat Riley are on the same page over Miami Heat's future (Image: Michael Reaves/Getty Images)

Miami Heat forward Jimmy Butler has made a bold promise to stay with the team until he retires and to help bring an NBA Championship to the city. During a promotional tour of China, Butler expressed his confidence in the Heat's ability to win a championship with him on the roster.

Butler, who recently signed a deal with sportswear company Li Ning ending his long-term relationship with Jordan Brand, spoke to the media during his tour in Beijing. When asked about his future plans with the organisation, Butler stated: "I believe that with all my heart, that we, I, will win a championship for the Miami Heat because I don't plan on playing for another NBA team after the Miami Heat."

This is not the first time Butler has expressed his commitment to the Heat. After losing to the Denver Nuggets in last season's NBA Finals, Butler declared: "I've had some helluva teammates come through here and compete with me and allow us to win a championship, which I still believe, with everything in me, that we will do as a team here."

Butler has made it clear that he wants the Heat to be the last NBA organisation he plays for before retiring. "It'll be the last jersey I wear," he said in an interview with ESPN (via the Express US ).

Despite not winning a championship in his four-year stint with the Heat, Butler has led the team to two trips to the NBA Finals. In the 2020 bubble season, the Heat became the Eastern Conference Champions but fell short against the Los Angeles Lakers in the Finals.

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Last season, the Heat had a challenging road to the playoffs, finishing with a worse regular season record than the previous year. As the seventh seed, they had to fight to extend their playoff chances while Butler played a crucial role in leading them past the Milwaukee Bucks and the Boston Celtics to reach the NBA Finals.

However, their Finals run was not successful, with the Heat only managing to win a single game against the Nuggets. Despite the disappointment, Heat President Pat Riley has expressed his alignment with Butler's vision for the team and their future success.

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Shane Ireland