MIAMI – Jimmy Butler is ready for the challenge.
The Milwaukee Bucks signed Giannis Antetokounmpo to a $228M supermax extension on Tuesday.
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Butler said he wouldn’t have it any other way.
“I like it,” Butler said. “I don’t think you can go around him. I don’t think you can go around LeBron either. You have to go right through them. You have to beat them. You also have to beat the Sixers, Boston, Toronto. There’s a lot of squads in the East with some really good players. Doesn’t intimidate me none. I actually get excited for it. I want to go up against the best, my guys want to go up against the best. That’s our way to show we belong. That’s how we get our respect.”
The Heat All-Star respects Giannis’ game.
Butler said, “He’s a hell of a player. He wants to be great. It’s our job to get better, each and every day, each and every year. He’s done a phenomenal job at it. They got a good core group around him. It’s going to be interesting. It’s going to be fun to watch. It’s going to be fun to go to battle against those guys.”
Butler added: “Can’t wait for the Heat vs. Bucks matchup.”
The two teams did meet inside the NBA Bubble with the Heat beating the Bucks in 5 games.