Jimmy Butler of the Miami Heat had a very good Monday night, helping his team reach the NBA Finals once again after a wildly successful postseason that saw them beat just about every expectation.
Butler again led the Heat for the night, scoring 28 points, 7 rebounds, and 6 assists in Game 7.
Following the very important game, he was spotted sharing a hug with NBA legend and commentator Shaquille O’Neal.
We don’t know what O’Neal said to Butler but he was surely congratulating him on a terrific postseason.
.@SHAQ caught up with Jimmy after Game 7 pic.twitter.com/VnPHkUOdwd
— NBA on TNT (@NBAonTNT) May 30, 2023
The hug from O’Neal capped off a huge evening for Butler.
Not only did he lead his team in points but he also scored the Eastern Conference MVP award for the first time.
It is true that he nearly lost that award to Caleb Martin but there is no doubt that Butler has been a strong force behind this team throughout the playoffs.
He was the Heat’s leader in the ways that count most: 24.7 points, 7.6 rebounds, and 6.1 assists a game during the series against the Celtics.
He also had 2.6 steals a game, which definitely helped them reach the finish line.
But Butler definitely did have some problems during the Eastern Conference Finals too.
He wasn’t as productive during Games 3 through 5 and actually didn’t shoot very well throughout most of the seven games against Boston.
Now, Butler has a few days to receive accolades and praise from people like O’Neal and others.
Then it will be time to get back to work, figure out how to improve his game, and face the daunting and strong Denver Nuggets in the Finals.
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