Jimmy Butler - Milwaukee Bucks v Miami Heat - Game Four
MIAMI, FLORIDA - Jimmy Butler (#22) of the Miami Heat dunks the ball against the Milwaukee Bucks during the fourth quarter in Game Four of the Eastern Conference First Round Playoffs at Kaseya Center on April 24, 2023 in Miami, Florida. Megan Briggs / Stringer

Miami Heat takes a 3-1 lead over the Milwaukee Bucks after Jimmy Butler scores a franchise playoff record of 56 points, but way back during his early years in the NBA, he clearly showed his hatred towards Miami Heat.

In an interview with Chicago Splash for the August 2013 issue, as he was entering his third season with the Bulls, Butler said he would never don a "Miami Heat jersey."

Jimmy Butler Feels at Home

Butler's comments were directed toward the Miami Heat team, which consisted of LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, and Chris Bosh, that had just eliminated his team, the Bulls, from the playoffs.

At the time, there was a growing possibility of a rivalry between Chicago and Miami, as the Heat were widely disliked.

After he was traded to Miami, the tone changed. During his first season in Miami, Butler said he frequently smiles because he is content and feels at home. He added that he feels strongly connected to the organization and its values.

Forward to 2023, Butler is demonstrating exceptional performances reminding fans why he earned his nickname "Playoff Jimmy." On Monday, Heat had a remarkable comeback victory against the Bucks. Despite being behind by 14 points in the final quarter, the Heat made an impressive recovery with Butler as their driving force. They won 119-114, thrilling the passionate home crowd and putting the top-seeded Bucks in danger of being eliminated early, as the Heat took a 3-1 series lead.