Miami Heat coach Erik Spoelstra is entering their sixth year together and believes a breakthrough in his relationship with Jimmy Butler is imminent.

This thesis is based almost entirely on longevity and mutual need.

“When you have so many years together, there is a lot of unspoken understanding,” Spoelstra said Monday at media day in Miami.

“He’s at a point now where he needs me to really coach this team at a high level. He needs me to train him at a high level and take him to higher levels. And I need him to reach his highest level as a player and a leader.

Butler, who turned 35 on Sept. 14, averaged 20.8 points – his lowest points in a full season since 2014-15 with the Chicago Bulls – 5.3 rebounds and 5.0 assists per game in the 2023 season –24.

Butler’s contract will receive a lot of attention considering Heat president Pat Riley ignored the potential deadline for a contract extension in his closing remarks in May. Butler is owed $48.8 million this season and has a player option for 2025-26. Butler is reportedly seeking a two-year contract extension worth at least $110 million.

He should be available later Monday and attend the first training camp in the Bahamas on Tuesday.

Spoelstra said Butler focused his extended offseason on recovering from a knee injury that kept him out of the postseason final series with the Boston Celtics.

“He’s in good shape when he comes to camp. He prepared,” Spoelstra said. “We were in contact. What I said in the last meeting (with Butler) was related to this opportunity.”

Spoelstra urged All-Star Bam Adebayo to “move in lockstep with him and Butler” to help Miami reach its potential. Adebayo showed significant improvement as an outside shooter late last season and during the Paris Olympics. He said tweaks on offense could make it harder for teams to defend Miami this season.

“The distance from the floor makes it easier for Jimmy, Terry (Rozier), Tyler (Herro) and me to get to the basket,” Adebayo said. “I just open the floor.”