Training camps are underway across the league now as the teams get ready for what promises to be another thrilling NBA season. We saw some terrific basketball to go with some juicy drama all of last season, and we can expect more of the same this time around as well.
One of the most nerve-wracking moments of last season was the end of Game 7 between the Miami Heat and the Boston Celtics in the Eastern Conference Finals, with the latter somehow hanging on to advance to the NBA Finals. It would have been a second trip to the Finals in 3 seasons for the Heat, who are looking to return to the biggest stage in the sport next year.
Jimmy Butler Spotted Hanging Out With Odell Beckham Jr.
It was Jimmy Butler who missed that shot which could have potentially sent them to the Finals but it is hard to put too much blame on him for that, as he was running on fumes after carrying the entire offensive burden for much of that series. Butler has been the talk of the town during training camp as well thanks to his bizarre new hairstyle and he was recently hanging out with another famous athlete known for his haircuts in Odell Beckham Jr.
Odell at Heat training camp pic.twitter.com/d8CsX8QXKT
— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) October 1, 2022
Odell is recovering from an ACL tear which is why he remains unsigned at this point and he has been hanging out with NBA stars during this time off. He was with LeBron James and Draymond Green during the Los Angeles Rams’ opening game of the NFL season and it remains to be seen if he returns to his former team once he is fully healthy.
As for Butler and the Heat, it has been a somewhat disappointing offseason. They couldn’t keep PJ Tucker and while they tried to acquire big names like Kevin Durant and Donovan Mitchell, they failed to land either of them. It was obvious during that series against the Celtics that the Heat needed more firepower which is why they pursued those two and it’s now up to the rest of the roster to share the load with Butler. Tyler Herro, who won Sixth Man of the Year last season, is someone they would look to for that, but he isn’t too happy at this point as he is yet to get an extension. He feels there are players around the league who have gotten paid who he is better than and we seem set for an interesting season in Miami with some potential for drama behind the scenes.
