Entering their sixth year together, Miami Heat coach Erik Spoelstra believes success in his relationship with Jimmy Butler is imminent.
That thesis is based almost entirely on longevity and mutual need.
“When you get to that many years together, there’s a lot of unspoken understanding,” Spoelstra said during Miami’s media day on Monday.
“He’s at a point now where he needs me to really coach this team at a high level. He needs me to coach him at a high level and push him to higher levels. And I need him to be at his highest level as a player. and a leader.”
Butler, who turned 35 on Sept. 14, averaged 20.8 points — his lowest score in a full season since 2014-15 with the Chicago Bulls — 5.3 rebounds and 5.0 assists per game in 2023-24.
There will be plenty of attention on Butler’s contract in light of Heat president Pat Riley, in his season-ending remarks in May, taking away the option window for a contract extension. Butler is owed $48.8 million this season and has a player option for 2025-26. Butler is reportedly seeking a two-year extension worth at least $110 million.
He was scheduled to be available later Monday and attend the first training camp practice Tuesday in the Bahamas.
Spoelstra said Butler focused his extended offseason on recovering from a knee injury that kept him out of the postseason-ending series with the Boston Celtics.
“He’s in a good place coming into camp. He’s prepared himself,” Spoelstra said. “We’ve been in contact. What I said in the last meeting (with Butler), it was about this opportunity.”
Spoelstra called on All-Star Bam Adebayo to “move in sync” with him and Butler to push Miami to its potential. Adebayo showed marked improvement as an outside shooter late last season and during the Paris Olympics. Adebayo said tweaks from the offense may make it more difficult for teams to defend Miami this season.
“Spacing the floor makes life easier for Jimmy, Terry (Rozier), Tyler (Herro) to get to the basket, and myself,” Adebayo said. “Just opening the floor.”
