Inside The Heat

Miami Heat's Erik Spoelstra Explains Why Jimmy Butler Is A "Generational Competitor"

Miami Heat coach Erik Spoelstra paid Jimmy Butler the ultimate compliment after scoring 35 points against New York Knicks
Shandel Richardson|
Miami Heat's Erik Spoelstra Explains Why Jimmy Butler Is A "Generational Competitor"
Miami Heat's Erik Spoelstra Explains Why Jimmy Butler Is A "Generational Competitor"

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Miami HeatNew York Knicks

At some point, Miami Heat coach Erik Spoelstra is going to run out of ways to say how much he loves Jimmy Butler's game. 

Butler had 35 points in the Heat's victory against the New York Knicks Wednesday at Miami-Dade Arena. The win pulled the Heat closer to No. 6 seed in the Eastern Conference standings. That spot is held by the Brooklyn Nets, who the Heat play Saturday. 

After the Knicks victory, Spoelstra praised Butler's competitiveness and ability to thrive in big games. The Heat are at a point in the season where every game counts. 

"I would say Jimmy is a generational competitor," Spoelstra said. "When things really ramp up and there becomes way more consequences and pressure, that's when he's going to compete and play at his best. That's an incredible skills set to have. In a league that is probably becoming a little bit younger and players are trying to figure things out, the real competitors can really stand out. Jimmy is at the top of the food chain as a competitor."

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Shandel Richardson
SHANDEL RICHARDSON

Shandel has covered the NBA since 2010, with previous stops at The Athletic and South Florida Sun-Sentinel. He has covered six NBA Finals, one Super Bowl, the NCAA basketball tournament. He has also been a beat writer for the Miami Hurricanes and contributed on every major beat in South Florida since 2003, including the Miami Dolphins and Miami Marlins. He can also be read in the Sportsbook Review for gambling coverage from around the NBA. A native of Bloomington, Illinois, Shandel attended Southern Illinois University in Carbondale. He's also worked for the St. Louis Post-Dispatch and Kansas City Star. TWITTER: @ShandelRich EMAIL: shandelrich@gmail.com You can subscribe to our YouTube channel here Follow all of our Miami Heat coverage on Facebook here

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