Why Miami Heat wouldn’t have made NBA finals without rapper’s help
When he’s not winning Grammys, J. Cole builds NBA finalist teams. Not in the same way Miami Heat President Pat Riley does, but the lauded rapper certainly has an eye for talent. In fact, if it weren’t for him, Miami would have likely not made the 2023 NBA Finals.
It all surrounds Heat standout Caleb Martin, one of nine undrafted players on the current Heat roster. In the 2021 offseason, J. Cole called former NBA All-Star and Miami assistant coach Caron Butler. It wasn’t to talk about rap (though Cole name-dropped Butler in one of his songs), but to talk about a promising North Carolina ball player who was looking to get signed after two underwhelming seasons with the Charlotte Hornets.
How J. Cole got Martin signed by the Heat
The Dreamville rapper told Butler the Heat should look into Caleb Martin. Yes, the same Martin who sunk 4-6 three-pointers and scored 26 points in Game 7 against the Celtics. Whom many believed deserved the Larry Bird MVP trophy over Jimmy Butler in the Eastern Conference finals.
There are certain people (J. Cole) that when they call you, the message and the favor is a little louder than others
Caron Butler then brought up Martin to the coaching staff, and the rest is history. The Heat’s assistant coach once told ESPN “there are certain people that when they call you about particular people, the message and the favor is a little louder than others.”
Caleb Martin and J. Cole’s frienship stems back from 2014
Martin and Cole’s friendship stems back from 2014, when the rap phenom and emerging NBA star started playing pickup basketball at the same gym. At that time, the small forward was playing for NC State.
The 8th seed Miami Heat will now face off against the Denver Nuggets in the 2023 NBA Finals. With Caleb Martin as en established starter, the hope is to keep defying expectations and bring the championship to South Florida.
