ESPN’s Jay Williams Believes Miami Heat’s Jimmy Butler Earned His Spot In The Hall-of-Fame

Even though the story of Jimmy Butler is still being written, his time with the Miami Heat is the most interesting chapter.

After being labeled a “locker room cancer” due to his personal disputes with the Minnesota Timberwolves and Philadelphia 76ers, he has proven his critics wrong once he joined the Heat. Aside from leading them to four playoff and two Finals appearances, he has grown into a fan-favorite in Miami.

Some even put him in the conversation with Dwyane Wade and LeBron James for greatest Heat players of all-time.

On Thursday, ESPN’s Get Up host and former NBA player Jay Williams was asked if Butler’s Hall-of-Fame status could be solidified if the Heat win this year’s championship. Not only does Williams think it could but he believes Butler has already earned his spot.

“Damn right, locked,” Williams said. “Not even a question. It might even be close to being locked already just off the run. Just off the run, it’s close. The way he plays, the spots he gets to, the big-game performances regardless of injury or not.”

Butler’s performance in these playoffs have been otherworldly. He is averaging a career-best 28 points including a 56-point game against the Milwaukee Bucks in the first round. Even when a picture went viral of his ankle being swollen, he rarely took time off.

If Butler can lead the Heat past the championship-favorites Denver Nuggets, Butler would earn Williams’ full respect.

“I have all the respect in the world for him if he’s able to pull it off,” Williams said. “I just don’t get it happening.”

Cory Nelson is a contributor to Inside The Heat. He attended Northern Virginia Community College. He can be reached at corymckenzienelson@hotmail.com or follow him on Twitter @CKenzyNelson. You can also check out his personal blog HERE.