Is Jimmy Butler's New "Emo" Style A Distraction Especially When The Heat Might Not Beat The New Bucks?
Jimmy Butler knows how to own Miami Heat media day, and this year was no different as he debuted his new hairstyle, which was all Andre 3000 "Hey Ya" vibes. The latest hairstyle, replete with straightened hair, black polished fingernails, eyebrow, and lip piercings, introduced the world to Butler's "Emo" phase.
"Don't make me break character," Butler said to a room full of laughing reporters caught off guard as he took his turn on the microphone. "Yeah, yeah, yeah, laugh it up.
"I'm very emotional right now," Butler said. "This is my emo state and I like this. This is me. This is how I'm feeling as of late."
Stay Focused
However, celebrity master groomer Marvin "Marv The Barb" Church, has styled many NBA stars and media personalities, thinks that Butler's makeover to steal the storyline is a distraction from what's important: winning a championship.
"In the world we live in today, Jimmy is treading a fine line between being seen as supportive of specific causes and becoming an excessive attention-seeker," said Church to TSL. Instead, it would be beneficial for him to find a balance and avoid going overboard with his self-expression.
"When the NBA season starts, it's time to shift the focus away from superficial matters like perfectly styled hair or monitoring every minute detail. The ultimate goal should be bringing a championship back to your city. So, let's leave all the distractions behind and return to the essence of NBA basketball."
The sentiment is especially true after losing Damian Lillard to the Milwaukee Bucks in a blockbuster trade that pairs Giannis Antetonkounmpo with the former face of the Portland Trailblazers. Butler took to social media to suggest that the NBA should look into the Bucks for tampering, but after losing 4-1 to the Denver Nuggets last year in the Finals, Butler has more to prove than ever this year.
Meet Emo Butler
"Emo" follows Butler's dreadlocked look last year, where fans were surprised to see the star sporting locs that virtually manifested overnight. However, Butler did not wear the style during the season, and the world won't know if he will decide to keep this look until the Heat opens their season against the Detroit Pistons on Oct. 25.
Like Heat center Bam Adebayo, many teammates thought the style was photoshopped before seeing him in person.
"That is not real. That is f***ing hilarious," Adebayo said to reporters.
Heat guard Tyler Herro added his sentiments with an insider's perspective.
"He told me this was his Halloween today," Herro said to the media.
Jimmy Butler is proving to be the NBA's version of Young Thug or Lil Uzi Vert pushing the boundaries between cultural expression, gender roles, and a worldly edge wearing a Japanese inspired look before putting on his Heat jersey and shorts.
However, aside from his ability to steal headlines away from the Damian Lillard mania in the Midwest right now, the only self-expression that heat fans will be feeling is him and the team making it back to the Finals and bringing another chip home to South Florida.