Jimmy Butler and Miami Heat icon Dwyane Wade shared an emotional moment while watching Game 3 of the NBA Finals from courtside in the Kaseya Center.
Before the game, the two hugged deeply as the Heat aimed to lead the series against the Denver Nuggets:
The two have been friends since 2013, when Dwyane Wade, then with the Miami Heat, and 23-year-old Jimmy Butler of the Chicago Bulls faced off in the playoffs. Wade was a member of a big three with LeBron James and Chris Bosh throughout the series, which also included a tough Bulls squad with a solid core in Joakim Noah, Luol Deng, and Carlos Boozer. For a few years, the teams would be fierce competitors, occasionally getting on each other’s nerves.
Dwyane Wade returned to Chicago to play with Butler and Rajon Rondo in 2016, and the two would later work together for a full season. It turned out to be a contentious year, with drama ranging from calling out teammates to the Boston Celtics in the opening round of the playoffs after going up 2-0.
The two would also engage in their own confrontations away from the court, such as the time Butler made a threat against Wade after commenting on a photo of Wade’s wife on Instagram. Since then, the two have patched things up and remain friends. Wade gave Jimmy credit for the Heat’s historic Finals run:
Wade informs Jimmy that he is creating his own narrative. He is developing a Hall of Fame career. And as a fan of the game, a supporter of his, and someone who essentially follows in his footsteps. I enjoy seeing it. Excellent for the game. Obviously, it’s fantastic for [the Miami Heat].
Jimmy recently responded to Wade’s appreciation with some of his own, praising Wade for standing with him throughout their relationship.