Heat news: Erik Spoelstra says Jimmy Butler reminds him of LeBron James.

Heat news: There is no doubt that Jimmy Butler is one of the best two-way players in the NBA, and it is one of the main reasons why the Miami Heat took a risk in trading for him. The franchise believes that he could be their next star now that Dwyane Wade has officially retired.

Heat coach Erik Spoelstra is more than happy that the team acquired Butler. He praised the nine-year veteran’s work ethic, which he described as Hall of Fame-like.

“The thing that also is notable about that is he has a Hall of Fame work ethic. That’s not something of myth. That’s something that’s well earned and it’s real. I think he also respects that he’s walking into a gym where there’s several guys that are right there with him, step for step, in terms of work ethic.”

Butler has earned a reputation as a workhorse. After being drafted 30th overall in 2011, he worked his way up to relevancy and stardom. Now he’s one of the best players in the league.

Spoelstra also said that Butler’s dedication in playing basketball reminds him of one of his former players; four-time league MVP LeBron James.

“I think it’s really rare for a star player. In that regard, he reminds me of LeBron. He is so aware and mindful of his teammates and he wants his teammates to play well and be in rhythm, even at the expense of his own offense.

“He’s not looking at how many shot attempts he gets or how many points he’s scoring. He really just cares about the bottom line: Are we winning or not? Are we doing the right thing to put our team in position to win? And he knows, whenever it becomes go time, when we need a basket or a good look or create an opportunity for a teammate, he’s driving that action. He’ll be able to produce. He’s done that his entire career. But I think that really speaks to his level-headedness and understanding of the big picture.”

Butler is one of the main reasons why the Heat are off to a good start this season. He’s putting up 19.3 points, 6.5 rebounds, 5.5 assists, and 2.8 steals per game. He’s doing everything he can to contribute on both ends of the floor, and he’s one of the main reasons why Miami is the fourth-best defensive team in the league.

The question now is, can Butler lead the Heat to a championship? Only time will tell. For now, Jimmy Buckets is happy with where he is, and Miami is also glad to have him.

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