We disagree. Why? Because it's time to raise the standards or diminish the honor for past and future greats.
Retiring a player's jersey in sports used to mean something. Whether the player delivered championships to the city or toiled for the franchise for more a decade, the honor was reserved for players who were more than merely passing through. Unfortunately, the tradition of raising a jersey into the rafters is about as rare and thrilling as a no-hitter in baseball these days. It is still noteworthy but no longer as meaningful as it once was.
In what amounts to a five-year career in Miami — no, we're not counting this disgraceful season — Butler's most significant accomplishment has been winning the Eastern Conference crown. Was it fun in the moment? Sure. Is it retire-dude's-jersey-worthy? Hell no.
From Dwyane Wade's greatness to Udonis Haslem's longevity and leadership, here’s a look at why these jerseys hang in the rafters — and why Jimmy Butler's never should.
No. 1: Chris Bosh
If you want to correlate jersey retirements with playoff success, Chris Bosh deserves to have his shorts retired, too. Bosh lost in the NBA Finals once. He tried hard, even, just like Jimmy Butler! He even cried! But would anyone have plumped for sending his jersey to the rafters if his four years had ended with zero titles? Maybe in a Miami Gardens Goodwill.Chris Bosh was the glue of Miami's "Big Three" era alongside LeBron James and Dwyane Wade. He's a two-time NBA champion who sacrificed individual accolades for the Miami Heat's franchise-altering success. Many also forget that he committed to playing for Miami before LeBron ever did. If not for that choice, who knows if the "Big Three" ever happens at all — and if it had happened with a different star, whether it would have worked out the same.
Bosh's crucial contributions in the Heat's back-to-back championships in 2012 and 2013, including plays like his rebound and assist on Ray Allen's game-saving Game 6 shot in '13, are the stuff of legends. Despite his career ending prematurely owing to health issues, Bosh's legacy as a selfless and indispensable role in the Heat story merits no one ever wearing No. 1 again.
No. 3: Dwyane Wade
Let's get this one out of the way: Dwyane Wade has a statue. That's many exits beyond laundry lifted into the rafters. Making a case for the Heat retiring Dwyane Wade's jersey number retired is like explaining the necessity of air-conditioning in South Florida — only an insane person would play devil's advocate on such a topic. That no Heat player will ever don No. 3 ever again is virtually settled law by the U.S. Supreme Court.Undisputedly the most significant player in Miami Heat history, Wade is a three-time NBA champion who led the team to its first title in 2006 with an iconic MVP performance in the Finals. Over 16 seasons, he became the face of the franchise, earning 13 All-Star appearances, eight All-NBA selections, and leading Miami in nearly every statistical category.
No. 10: Tim Hardaway
Steve Smith crawled so Tim Hardaway could walk. And Tim Hardaway walked so the Miami Heat could run.With Jimmy Butler, the narrative is that he saved the Heat from a few bad seasons when he arrived in Miami. Incredible story — now bring that same energy when teleporting yourself back to when the Heat landed Hardaway, one of the franchise's first stars. It's akin to when the Florida Marlins traded for Gary Sheffield. It was surreal. Life-changing, not roster-changing.
Without the Alonzo Mourning and Tim Hardaway years, it's uncertain whether Miami and Pat Riley have a happy-ending story. It's easy to forget now, but there was a time when the Heat straight-up stunk, from their facilities down to their roster. Riley came to Miami and wanted to transform the culture, and he did so with a foundation that relied heavily on Tim Hardaway.
Hardaway's jersey retirement is a lifetime-achievement honor for what he did during Miami's rise in the late 1990s. While he never got to the NBA Finals like Jimmy Butler, Hardaway led the Heat to multiple deep playoff runs. His five All-Star selections and two All-NBA First Team honors are just the cherry on top of a vital career more crucial to the Heat than it was to him.
No. 23: Michael Jordan
Everyone hates this. Nobody wants Michael Jordan's number in the rafters. It would be one thing to honor the most outstanding player in NBA history by not allowing anyone to wear No. 23 on the down-low, but to have his jersey hanging above Pat Riley Court is just weird.On the flip side, while Michael Jordan never played for the Miami Heat, his jersey is retired in recognition of his unparalleled contributions to basketball. There will never be another Michael Jordan. There will be hundreds of Jimmy Butlers, including a likely handful who play for the Heat and whose claim to fame is almost winning something.
No. 32: Shaquille O'Neal
Shaq promised he'd bring a title to Miami when he arrived, and he delivered one. Shaquille O'Neal's arrival in Miami in 2004 changed the franchise's trajectory. Before Shaq came to the Magic City, the Heat were the Dolphins — an annual disappointment. After he left, Miami was a destination for reasons outside its sunny beaches and nightlife.Shaq helped the Heat secure their first NBA title in 2006 by teaming up with a young Dwyane Wade. Nothing else really needs to be said. And while he left in a pissy way that's slightly similar to Jimmy Butler current exit strategy, he won something. When you deliver a parade down Biscayne Boulevard, all can be forgiven.
No. 33: Alonzo Mourning
If you ask a thirtysomething on Twitter for their Top 5 Miami Heat players of all time, many will include Jimmy Butler over Alonzo Mourning. And those people are wrong. Young, dumb, and evil.OK. Maybe too far. Mourning was the heart and soul of the Miami Heat during the team's formative years as a contender. Mourning was a seven-time All-Star and two-time Defensive Player of the Year. Mourning was a vital role player on the 2006 Heat championship team.
Championship. Let's say that again because it's something "Playoff" Jimmy Butler can't say even once. Not in high School. Not in college. Not in the NBA. Always a best man, never a groom.
No. 40: Udonis Haslem
Udonis Haslem should be the Miami Heat's logo. Just his face. Burnie is creepy, anyway. As a hometown hero, Haslem spent his 20-year career with the Heat, serving as a mentor and enforcer even after his playing time diminished. A three-time NBA champion, Haslem embodies Heat culture, preaching accountability and toughness. His influence off the court is as significant as his contributions, making him a Heat legend for life.Haslem never made a fraction of Jimmy Butler's money in the NBA (now more than $300 million). Haslem played entire seasons for what Butler lost in a couple of weeks of being suspended.
Jimmy Butler wishes he was half the NBA player Udonis Haslem was. Points are cool. All-Star selections look great on Wikipedia. But legacy and respect last decades. We all know what Butler will be known for in 20 years, and the same goes for Haslem.
