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Charles Barkley Defends Jimmy Butler Over His Three-Point Attempt In Closing Moments Of Game 7: “It Is A Wide-Open Three”

After the Miami Heat fell to the Boston Celtics in the Eastern Conference Finals, many fans and observers took issue with Jimmy Butler’s decision to take a three-point shot during the final seconds of Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Finals. 

The shot would’ve given them a 1-point lead with roughly 16 seconds left in the shot clock. But unfortunately, Butler’s shot didn’t fall, causing their chances of stealing the game from the Celtics to go downhill.

While Butler’s shot selection remains a painful thought for many fans, Hall of Famer Charles Barkley believes that the 32-year old Heat superstar took a wide-open three-point attempt, adding that he had no problem with Butler taking it.

As transcribed by Gautam Varier of Fadeaway World:

“I mean, he’s the only reason they were alive in this series and it is a wide-open 3. So, I had no problem with it. Hey Jimmy Butler, he proved to me man, he’s a stud man. What he did in Game 6 and tried to do in Game 7, got nothing but love and respect for Jimmy f’in Butler as I call him.”

“I had no problem with Jimmy taking the shot and if he makes the shot we’d be having a different argument. We’d be saying damn Jimmy Butler we need to move him up on the line.”