Is it time for the Starting 5 already? It was less than a week ago when Netflix provided a treat to the community by dropping the trailer of its new sports documentary. Now, the main stars of the 10-part series descended onto the red carpet, with LeBron James, Jayson Tatum, Jimmy Butler, Anthony Edwards, and Domantas Sabonis gracing fans with their presence at the premiere. However, if there was one person who was too ‘happy’ about it, it was the Heat star, making it very obvious by his attention-grabbing sarcasm.

The celebration of the five hoopers was something to not miss, as other members of the NBA fraternity also came to support them. A recent viral clip, however, posted by Netflix showcased Jimmy Butler catching up with now Sac Town’s DeMar DeRozan at the premiere. While JB seemed to have been caught by surprise, this still didn’t stop him from trolling his on-court rival.

“You’re not even in the show!” Jimmy Butler exclaimed. Fortunately, DeMar DeRozan didn’t seem to mind the hilarious and lighthearted jab and continued exchanging pleasantries with the Heat champion. This wholesome moment, however, didn’t keep the community quiet for too long. Lo and behold, the comments section was soon filled up.

Fans praise Jimmy Butler and DeMar DeRozan’s bond: “Shines just as bright as their on-court rivalry!”

One user kicked off the discussion of the Netflix post, by stating, “Jimmy and DeMar’s off-court chemistry shines just as bright as their on-court rivalry!” If there is anyone who can attest to that, then they are certainly long-time NBA viewers.

Having previously played for the Bulls for 3 seasons, the rivalry between him and Butler’s Heat for the Eastern Conference supremacy was often a must-watch. The recent season saw both teams going almost head-to-head, with Butler occupying the 8th seed and DeRozan the 9th. For now, the Heat can boast of leading through a 7-3 win record, but the upcoming season might change that.

One social media user followed the same path and handed out praise. They complimented the sportsmanship displayed by the duo, stating, “It’s all about connections. Even outside the game, moments like this remind us of the bonds we share.”

While Butler and DeRozan’s on-court rivalry is quite prominent, fans have also got a few glimpses of the hoopers bonding when away from the arena. Back in December 2023, after the Heat ended up facing a resounding loss to the Bulls, Jimmy Butler and Kyle Lowry joined and hung out with DeMar DeRozan at the Heat star’s ‘Big Face Brand’ event.

Lowry was a mutual acquaintance of the duo, as he and DeRozan had been teammates in the Raptors. In fact, after the former was traded to Miami, Butler poked fun at the latter by writing, “There’s a new bestie in town” on Instagram and tagging both players.

One individual was ecstatic at the energy that was being given out just from that brief clip. He stated, “Ayy, that’s how it goes! Legends linking up, bringing that court heat to the big screen, feelin’ the vibe!”

The only thing that could have made the ‘court heat’ even hotter was if the duo were actual teammates, representing their franchise on the premiere. Believe it or not, there was actually quite a recent attempt to get DeRozan to join the Heat.

Whether it was fuelled by the bond DeMar shared with Butler and Lowry or not, Heavy Sports’ Sean Deveny was convinced, “Of all the players out there people are floating for the Heat, they’re not close to doing anything now, but DeMar DeRozan would be the one that has legs. He is as close to what they’re looking for as they’re going to find. Perfect fit, really.” Unfortunately, a trade proposal fell short.

According to ESPN’s Bobby Marks, the same occurred after the Bulls reportedly did not want Duncan Robinson as part of the trade. Otherwise, Marks claims that “They would’ve loved to get (DeRozan).”

Another individual simply wrote “That hug doe”, accompanying the caption with a ‘melting’ and ‘star-eyes’ emoji. Let’s face it, the same feeling wouldn’t be restricted to just one commenter, as it is always a good feeling to see our favorite players have a close moment. Overall, the majority of the reactions were positive towards Jimmy Butler and DeMar DeRozan’s bond.

Whether the duo will ever be seen playing alongside each other in the same colors remains a matter of mystery.

Before you go, remember to check out this crossover between BG12 and Georgia Bulldogs star Silas Demary Jr.