Jimmy Butler dismissed the notion that his ankle injury could have bothered him since exiting the second round of their playoff run.
As they ultimately failed to force a series extension and went on to collapse against the Denver Nuggets in Game 5 of the 2023 NBA Finals, Butler deflected injury excuses as he noted that the new league champs just outplayed them.
“Zero,” he said about how much his ankle injury has affected him. “My ankle’s fine. We just didn’t win, there’s no excuse. They beat us.”
Butler sustained the injury in the opener of their second-round set against the New York Knicks. Since then, his numbers have gradually dipped.
After feasting on their first-round upset over the Milwaukee Bucks wherein he averaged an unbelievable 35.5 points in a 59 percent shooting, he ends his playoff campaign averaging 26.9 points in a 46.8 percent field goal mark.
In a Game 5 losing effort, it took him 18 total shots with five made field goals just to reach 21 markers.
Still, Butler will never miss that faith and optimism that there will be a moment soon in the future when they’ll reach the apex of the NBA, as he remains confident of their chances to contend for years to come.
“I’ve had hell of teammates come through here and compete with me and give us an opportunity to win a championship – which I still believe, with everything in me, that we will do as a team here, as an organization, as a city of Miami,” he said.
“The four years have been great. It’s always great to be loved and appreciated. I don’t think it’s going to change. I’m grateful we made it here.”
