Jimmy Butler woke up at 3:30 a.m. on Tuesday morning (October 1st) and got in an early workout before the first day of Miami Heat training camp, according to the Miami Herald. Heat practice wasn’t scheduled until 10 a.m. 

“Just a little extra work while y’all in your third dream. I like to get it in,” Butler said to the media on Tuesday. 

This is nothing new for the All-Star guard. He’s always been an early riser and is one of the hardest working players in the NBA. 

Butler signed a 4 year/$140 million dollar contract with the Miami Heat during the summer as part of a sign and trade deal with the Philadelphia 76ers. 

Heat president Pat Riley and head coach Erik Spoelstra are known as tough, hard-nosed competitors. They are relishing the opportunity to have Butler infuse his DNA into the team’s culture. 

There’s buzz around the Heat in the preseason. 

Prognosticators and analysts see this team as a sleeper, and one that could make some noise and push for the playoffs. 

As with most NBA training camps, optimism is high and hope springs eternal. 

“Everybody is helping, everybody is talking,” Butler said after his first practice. “A group full of leaders, and everybody is leading in different ways. They’re helping me way more than I can help them at this point in time. I like it because everybody has something to say. I’m probably the first one that has something to say. But I’m telling you, we compete. We got some dogs. We want to fight. I know if we can battle against one another, when the time presents itself to battle against an opposing team, it’s going to be even easier.”