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An appreciation of Jimmy Butler, the star

CHICAGO — Jimmy Butler casually strolled into media availability at All-Star Weekend on Saturday, armed with everything except a throng of people hanging on his every word or cameras obscuring him from plain sight.

Usually the best addition to the most improved team in a conference would have such benefits, with Butler turning the Miami Heat from middling to a genuine threat to the ascension of Giannis this spring.

But Butler routinely deflects praise, deftly dishing it to fellow All-Star Bam Adebayo or the slew of young players with whom the Heat franchise has supplemented Butler.