Derrick White’s father, Richard, engaged in some good-natured banter on social media, playfully teasing Miami Heat star Jimmy Butler. Richard White posted a photo of himself and his son Derrick holding the Eastern Conference Finals trophy, commonly known as the Bob Cousy Trophy, in a humorous reference to a comment Butler made to Bam Adebayo about “holding the next one.” This remark came after the Heat’s victory over the Celtics in Game 7 of the 2023 Eastern Conference Finals.
However, unlike the Celtics, who went on to clinch the 2024 NBA Finals in five games against the Dallas Mavericks, the 2022-23 Miami Heat did not succeed in securing the ultimate prize, the Larry O’Brien Trophy. Instead, they were defeated in the championship series by the Denver Nuggets, led by Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray, in a series that ended in a gentleman’s sweep after dispatching the younger White’s Celtics in the conference finals.
Adding a twist to the narrative, Butler’s performance in the 2023 NBA Finals did not match his playoff reputation. Despite averaging over 24 points per game in the Heat’s earlier playoff series that year, Butler’s scoring dropped to 21.6 points per game against Denver. Furthermore, he did not lead Miami in scoring during the finals, as Bam Adebayo topped the team with an average of 21.8 points per game. Butler’s shooting efficiency was also less than stellar, converting only 41.3 percent of his field goal attempts throughout the series and shooting above 50 percent in just one of the five games.
The Celtics and Heat have developed a noticeable playoff rivalry in recent years, with several memorable matchups. Richard White’s social media jest adds an extra layer of intrigue to this ongoing rivalry, prompting speculation about Miami’s potential response. As the teams continue to compete in the playoffs, the dynamics between them, fueled by such interactions, promise to keep fans engaged and eager to see how the rivalry unfolds in future matchups.
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