It was clear in the early 2020s that Jimmy Butler became the leader and marquee star of the Miami Heat. Now that the former Eastern Conference Finals MVP had moved to the Golden State Warriors, Coach Erik Spoelstra had to rely on someone else to become their heart and soul. Who took on that mantle?

Zachary Weinberger is a credentialed Miami Heat reporter and an Associate Editor covering the NBA at-large, NCAA Football, and NCAA Basketball for ClutchPoints. He graduated from Florida Atlantic University in 2022, covering sports at the FAU University Press and later at The Palm Beach Post.

Jimmy Butler walked back to the Warriors locker room at the end of Tuesday’s game without exchanging any handshakes or words with his former Heat teammates and coaches. Bam Adebayo and Butler