The ‘Playoff Jimmy’ mystique has defined Jimmy Butler for five years. It began in 2020 when Butler led the Miami Heat to the NBA Finals as a fifth seed.
Back then, the Miami Heat entered the postseason as the fifth seed in the Eastern Conference, but exceeded expectations by becoming conference champions.
Jimmy Butler’s performance was one of the key reasons why. He was a strong shooter, played fearlessly, was an elite defender, and had a consistent impact in the fourth quarter.
Butler’s legendary 2023 run created the ultimate Playoff Jimmy moment
The nickname reached its peak in 2023 during another improbable Finals run. Butler’s eighth-seeded Heat steamrolled through the East with dominant performances.
His 56-point explosion against Milwaukee in the first round set a franchise playoff record. Butler single-handedly willed Miami past higher-seeded opponents with vintage performances.
However, some analysts believe those magical playoff runs are behind him. Bill Simmons delivered a harsh verdict on Butler’s current capabilities.
Photo by Chris Coduto/Getty ImagesSimmons declares Butler’s playoff dominance officially over
Simmons’ assessment stems from Butler’s struggles in Golden State’s Western Conference semifinals loss to Minnesota. The Warriors fell 4-1 when Stephen Curry was sidelined with a hamstring injury.
“The Minnesota series I think killed that. I think he can get there every once in a while, but I think he just didn’t seem impactful enough,” Simmons said on his podcast.
“When you get to 35 and up, asking somebody to be good for nine months is really really a chore. We don’t have a lot of history of it,” he added.
Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty ImagesZach Lowe agrees the elite Butler version rarely appears
Simmons’ co-host Zach Lowe echoed similar concerns about Butler’s current standing among elite players. He believes the focused version of Butler seldom surfaces anymore.
“Focused, healthy, happy Jimmy Butler is probably in this conversation, but that guy doesn’t exist very often anymore,” Lowe explained.
Butler’s injury history and advancing age have become critical factors. His tailbone injury during the playoffs raised additional durability questions.
The statistics support their argument. Butler averaged fewer than 20 points per game this season, his lowest output in five years, during which time his team won playoff games. In Golden State, Butler functions more as Robin to Curry’s Batman than as the primary offensive weapon.