Jimmy Butler had an amazing tribute to Kareem Abdul-Jabbar during a Miami Heat victory over the Chicago Bulls on Monday.
Butler, who finished with 16 points as well as three rebounds and six assists, scored on Abdul-Jabbar’s signature skyhook shot during the first quarter.
It was a delightful moment no one could have predicted before it was happening, but if his defenders weren’t sure that’s what he was doing, he made sure to let them know.
Jimmy yelled skyhook 😂 pic.twitter.com/OHps5OgGRo
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) November 21, 2023
Even on the broadcast, it was impossible to not hear Butler yell out “skyhook” as he took the shot.
During his postgame media availability, he added some context.
"I'm in a 3-point shooting slump right now, so I gotta go to what I know, which is the skyhook." 😂
-Jimmy Butler pic.twitter.com/sW39X7L0OK
— Bally Sports Sun: HEAT (@BallyHEAT) November 21, 2023
“I got to pick and choose my spots wisely because I’m in a 3-point shooting slump right now, so I got to go to what I know, which is the skyhook.”
Butler was then asked when he last attempted a skyhook and he said that it mostly happens during practice. He said that he “just be out there doing stuff” during practice.
The six-time All-Star also explained why he identified the name of the shot as he took it:
“I just had to let everybody know that’s the shot I was going to do and there’s nothing anybody could do about it because I made my mind up as soon as I went middle.”
While not all of them are skyhooks like Abdul-Jabbar, the Heat star is a perfect 3-of-3 on his hook shots so far this season, per Synergy.
It is unlikely that trend continues, though, as he was 11-of-26 (42.3 percent) on hook shots last season and 13-of-23 (56.5 percent) the season prior.
During his first season with Miami in 2019-20, however, Butler was 12-of-18 (66.7 percent) on his hook shots. That ranked second-best among those with at least 15 attempts, also via Synergy.
