Butler content, shrugs off All-Star controversy

Heat’s Butler is not an All-Star, but content to lead a team on the rise

It was nearly an hour after Wednesday night’s victory over the Toronto Raptors at AmericanAirlines Arena when Jimmy Butler arrived for his postgame interview, well aware of what one of the initial questions would be.

The Miami Heat forward quickly made it clear he wanted no part of the debate about whether he should have been selected an Eastern Conference All-Star.

“I’m cool,” he said. “I’m not the one to ask about going to All-Star.”

Then, without getting into specifics about the process that left him out, he offered insight into why being surrounded by star-studded talent has come to mean less than being able to lead a group willing to follow.

So Butler instead spoke about how Heat center Bam Adebayo was the one who got shortchanged in the All-Star process, of how getting Goran Dragic back into the mix on Wednesday night felt liber

ating for the entire team, of how Duncan Robinson is evolving into a more complete player.

With the Chicago Bulls at the start of Butler’s career, there was the star power of Derrick Rose alongside.

With the Minnesota Timberwolves, there was All-Star center Karl-Anthony Towns. With the Philadelphia 76ers, there were both Joel Embiid and Ben Simmons, a pair who will help represent the Eastern Conference in the March 7 All-Star Game in Atlanta.

But with the Heat, it has become Butler’s team to lead, to set challenges for others to rise up alongside. To stand as a leader. And to stand for more than the mere tag of All-Star.

“And that’s one of the things that he wanted, in joining us,” coach Erik Spoelstra said, “is to work on that aspect, to improve, to have a few role models to look to, such as [Udonis Haslem] and our organization, to be able to impact winning with his leadership will, in a very similar way to his competitive will when he’s on the court.

“And he’s made big improvements in that area.”

By caring, and, yes, also by sharing, including with his gamehigh 10 assists in the victory over Toronto that extended the Heat’s winning streak to four and made it eight victories in their last 11.

“If you’re taking just specifically on the court, we’ve always felt that he’s had this kind of ability, the playmaking ability,” Spoelstra continued. “He’s probably played a little bit more point guard for us that he has previously in his career. And, I think, his ability to be assertive and facilitate and find that balance is super unique. And it’s been a big part to our success offensively.”

And yet, still, it is the attack mode, with an eye on the rim, that has proven so essential, including scoring 14 of the Heat’s 24 points in the fourth quarter against the Raptors, assisting on five others.

“He’s still a go-to scorer,” Raptors coach Nick Nurse said, “and hard to handle with one guy.”

So the Raptors tried just about every guy, as Butler was working toward his game-high 27 points Wednesday night, now averaging 21.1 points, 9.6 rebounds and 8.7 assists over his last 14 games.

“You need great players to be able to make plays down the stretch,” Spoelstra said, before turning his attention to Friday’s visit by the league-leading Utah Jazz. “That’s what Jimmy did. They switched, we didn’t have a whole lot open, and he was just able to make some plays.”

Yet there, as Wednesday was turning into Thursday, Butler preferred to turn the focus elsewhere, such as when it came to the All-Star fallout.

“I wish Bam would have made it,” he said. “As for me? I’m cool. No disappointment for me. Zero.”

He then praised Dragic, after the veteran guard’s return following nine games away with a sprained ankle.

“It was great to have Goran back,” he said. “I think Goran changes the game for us, gets me a lot of open shots out there with him.”’

There also was mention of Robinson working off the dribble to the benefit of teammates.

“He’s actually getting really good at putting the ball on the floor,” Butler said. “I’m happy for him. He’s learning and watching film.”

And, so, a week from now, when he otherwise could have been headed for Atlanta and the All-Star Game, there will be a six-day break, additional time to work on his current tennis passion.

“I love it,” he said. “I love it.”