“Damn, we about to be dope” — Caron Butler’s heartbreaking Miami Heat departure

When the Miami Warmth landed Shaquille O’Neal within the 2004 offseason, their gamers have been doubtless thrilled to have the chance to be on the identical crew because the All-Star middle. A type of who was pumped was Caron Butler.

“I will always remember getting back from Antigua,” Butler recalled throughout a current episode of “All of the Smoke” podcast. “I used to be doing a Basketball With out Borders camp or clinic for the Miami Warmth. … I am strolling via the airport, they usually like, ‘Shaquille O’Neal coming to the Miami Warmth.’ I used to be like, ‘Rattling, we about to be dope.’“

Brief-lived pleasure

Funnily sufficient, Butler’s pleasure was short-lived, as he realized he was a part of the commerce package deal that additionally included Lamar Odom and Brian Grant.

“I used to be like, ‘Oh, sh*t, that is how this labored?’” Butler continued. “‘I assumed I used to be right here perpetually. I simply purchased a crib. I am unable to promote my crib.’ It was like all that emotional attachment. However that was only a loopy expertise.“

Sadly for the 6-foot-7 ahead, he missed out on successful a title with the franchise that drafted him. O’Neal and Dwyane Wade led Miami to the championship within the 2006 Finals, with Wade rising as a drive to be reckoned with and O’Neal proving that he might play second fiddle to a different star.

Enjoying with Kobe

Whereas Butler did not get to play alongside “The Large Diesel,” he was lucky to play with Los Angeles Lakers icon Kobe Bryant – even when for only one season. Proper off the bat, he received to expertise how intense Bryant was, which Butler credit as what helped him change into an All-Star.

“I will always remember Kobe signed a deal for $130-plus million,” Butler shared. “I am on the press convention, and it is truly a double press convention as a result of they’re introducing myself, Brian Grant, Lamar Odom to town of Los Angeles, after which Kobe signing this deal. And I will always remember that cash, after which the very first thing, he turned to the appropriate, stated to me was, ‘Get able to f*ck the black out. Get able to work out. Let’s take that sh*t to a different degree.‘ I am speaking concerning the blackout classes. The explanation why I used to be an All-Star participant, the explanation why I am within the teaching house is as a result of my time that I spent with Kobe Bryant.“

The 42-year-old had already gushed concerning the blackout exercise up to now.

So, despite the fact that Butler can solely think about what it could have been wish to run with arguably probably the most dominant large man of all time, he most likely would not change it for the expertise of repping the Purple and Gold with the late Lakers legend.

Butler even is aware of that the late Bryant noticed him not simply as a teammate but additionally as a real buddy. He was positive of it after Kobe agreed to take part in his ebook, “Tuff Juice: My Journey from the Streets to the NBA.”

Oh, and the two-time All-Star nonetheless received his ring, successful a championship with the Dallas Mavericks in 2011.