As the Miami Heat prepare to defend the Eastern Conference title they won in the NBA's bubble, All-Star swingman Jimmy Butler wants his team to enter into the new season knowing that it belongs among the league's best.
"I'm hoping that we are learning that we belong. That we're one of the best teams in this league and we can do what we know we can do, which is win a championship," Butler said during a video conference call with reporters Monday, his first since last season ended. "We said the whole thing last year, we didn't do it -- we better hold up what we're talking about. I know that we're capable of it. I know that we believe we can do it. So I'm just hoping that we learn that we can hang with the best of them all year long."
Butler, who forever changed the narrative of his own career by leading the Heat to within two games of an NBA championship before losing to LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers 4-2 in the 2020 NBA Finals, is determined to lead Miami all the way back to the top.
"I didn't have to make it to the Finals and lose it to realize how bad that I wanted to win it," Butler said. "But I think everybody here realized that it's very possible, that we're capable of making it happen. So I'm with the guys, we're just working together, to figure out a way, figure out that formula. Obviously, being healthy, get us there again, and this time we'll do what we're supposed to do."
Trying to stay healthy after just a seven-week turnaround from one season to the next will be an ongoing theme of Butler's campaign. Heat coach Erik Spoelstra acknowledged last week that Butler would likely be on a minutes limit to start the season after averaging 43 per game during the Finals.
When asked how he was holding up physically, Butler, who was excused from Sunday's first day of training camp, noted that he is playing through whatever nagging injuries he still is dealing with.
"Nobody really cares," Butler said. "I got a job to do so that's what I got to be ready to do. I got to be ready to go out there and compete when these games start, nicked up or not. I think a lot of people are going to be that. Still go out there and compete, still go out there and win. And that's where I'm at with it."
In the meantime, Spoelstra reiterated that Butler's Finals performances have been the talk of coaching circles since last season ended. Spoelstra tried to put into context just how influential Butler's games against the Lakers will be in the future.
"Those were iconic moments," Spoelstra said. "Not just for our organization, but in this league. To be able to do what he did and inspire an entire organization and team. As it's happening, you're in the middle of it, but you're still able to step back and acknowledge that this is really uncommon ..."
"The image of just emptying the tank and being on the basket stanchion, that's an iconic visual. Not only that we'll remember, but I think that will be a teaching point. I've already heard from a lot of my coaching peers in college and in high school that they've talked about [with their teams]. That if you can push yourself to that point as a competitor, that's when you can find out really what you're made of."