It has only taken a couple months for Heat's Jimmy Butler to trust new teammates

Even with the offseason addition of Jimmy Butler, the Miami Heat are having success because of a balanced offensive approach

When the Miami Heat acquired Jimmy Butler in a trade during the offseason, there were immediate talks of him becoming the team’s alpha.

The thought was his teammates would defer at all times. He would always take the final shot. He would be in complete control at all times.

That has hardly been the case 28 games into the season. While Butler has placed his stamp in the locker room, he has yet to command the offensive attention.

“We just play to win,” Butler said. “If you got the hot hand, we’re feeding you. We’re in this together. I think everybody did a great job of getting everybody involved and making sure everybody is comfortable. We’ve got a team full of guys who can score, full of guys who can defend, can get everybody else involved. It’s a nice team. We’re playing well.”

Butler arrived in Miami already with a diva reputation. He was involved in drama-filled situations at all his previous stops _ Chicago, Minnesota and Philadelphia _ but has been a glove-like fit in Miami. After a recent victory against the 76ers, he was asked about being the team’s only star player.

He quickly shot down the question by mentioning teammate Bam Adebayo, who is on pace for his first NBA All-Star Game appearance.

“This is a team of one star? Who’s that star, Bam? I’ll take it,” Butler said. “I’ll take Bam as our star any day.”

Butler isn’t worried about the perception of the Heat being a one-man team. He’s been around the group long enough to realize that is false.

“We’re content with who we are,” Butler said. “We love hooping with one another. We love competing with one another. So one star, two stars, no stars, we’re playing some good basketball.”

Butler has taken on more of a leadership role as young teammates Tyler Herro, Kendrick Nunn, Duncan Robinson and Adebayo develop. His willingness to step aside has helped their growth.

“He realizes that,” Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said. “This is what he signed up for. Our young guys are going to continue to get better … Jimmy is a great teammate and a leader to be able to provide this environment along with other veterans."

Butler sped the process by forging early relationships with all the youngsters. During the summer, he invited Herro to Chicago for a week’s worth of workouts. He also formed bonds with Adebayo, Nunn and Robinson in preseason pickup games.

It made it easier to trust them once the season began.

“I don’t really look at them as young guys,” Butler said. “I just look at them as basketball players, as hoopers, as NBA guys. They’re so smart. They want to do great things, talking about how they’re always working on their game, asking the right questions, studying film. Young guys, whatever you want to call them, the ones that we have, they do it the right way.”