In the aftermath of the trade deadline, ESPN NBA insider Shams Charania took a moment to unwind—and drew inspiration from Jimmy Butler in the process. After spending weeks covering the Jimmy Butler trade saga, Charania could finally take a breather.
The official NBA on ESPN X (formerly Twitter) account shared an image of a tired Charania in the studio, who reenacted a famous moment from Butler during the 2020 NBA Finals.
“Wildest deadline in NBA history?” ESPN asked.
Charania had been busy all deadline. Among the notable names to switch teams were Butler, Anthony Davis, Luka Dončić, Kyle Kuzma, De’Aaron Fox, Zach LaVine, Andrew Wiggins, and Brandon Ingram. Miami made several additions, including Wiggins, Davion Mitchell, and a slew of draft picks. Despite acquiring players like PJ Tucker, the Heat later traded them elsewhere.
ROBINSON PRAISES BUTLER
Duncan Robinson, who spent six seasons alongside Jimmy Butler, was quick to recognize what made his teammate stand out.
“He’s the only player I’ve seen—or at least the one who does it the most—where his competitive spirit and will are what separate him,” Robinson shared on the Young Man and the Three podcast.
“You look at his game, and yeah, he has skill,” Robinson continued. “Obviously, he’s got good footwork, he’s athletic, but there’s nothing extraordinary about anything he does other than his competitive spirit and will.”
LOVE HINTS AT NEXT MOVE
Kevin Love, the Heat’s veteran big man, might be signaling his exit from social media antics. While he isn’t retiring—at least not publicly—Love hinted that he’s done playing the comedian. In recent weeks, Love had been posting memes and movie clips on Instagram, often poking fun at teammates and the ongoing Jimmy Butler trade rumors.
But with Butler reportedly headed to Golden State, Love made a cryptic comment on Instagram:
“Generational Run,” Love wrote, attaching a video of Michael Jordan’s 1993 retirement press conference.
