NBA fans are likely familiar with Lakers star LeBron James’ tradition of going dark on social media during the playoffs, an annual occurrence that he has cleverly taken to calling “Zero Dark Thirty.” James adopted his vow of virtual silence to keep his focus on basketball, removing any potential distractions in his quest for a fourth Larry O’Brien Trophy.
All-Star wing Jimmy Butler has never advanced past the second round of the NBA playoffs, which is where he finds himself now with Miami currently facing Milwaukee in the Eastern Conference semifinals. After going it alone for the first month and change in the NBA bubble, players from remaining teams are now permitted to have family members join them.
We’ve already seen players like Raptors guard Fred VanVleet and Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo enjoy emotional reunions with their children and spouses, but you shouldn't expect Butler to join in the family fun. Butler has made it clear he won’t be entertaining any friends or family in Orlando, citing a desire to keep his mind on hoops as Miami pursues its fourth NBA title.
“This is a business trip for me, not messing around,” Butler said, as quoted by TNT’s Allie LaForce. “Everyone wants to have their family without a doubt, but we’ve been doing this for this long, what’s another couple months? It is an individual decision. I respect that decision that my teammates make, but for me, I’m here for business.”
Butler certainly meant business Tuesday, erupting for a playoff career-high 40 points in the Heat's upset of the top-seeded Bucks in Game 1. Zero Dark Jimmy joined James, Chris Bosh and fellow Marquette alum Dwyane Wade as one of the only four players in franchise history to score 40 or more points in a playoff game.
Philadelphia fans must be fuming watching Butler — who spent the latter half of last season in Sixers threads before skipping town in free agency — star for the Heat (winners of five straight) while playing arguably the best basketball of his career. Meanwhile the 76ers, burdened by expensive contracts (in retrospect, breaking the bank for Al Horford and Tobias Harris may have been ill-advised), untimely injuries and questionable team chemistry, are left to wonder what could have been after being swept by the Celtics in disastrous fashion in the first round.
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