Earlier this month, the Miami Heat handed star forward Jimmy Butler a seven-game suspension for “multiple instances of conduct detrimental to the team over the course of the season and particularly the last several weeks.”
Butler, who reportedly wants to be traded, is still serving his suspension, which has three games remaining.
In the eyes of New York Knicks players Jalen Brunson and Josh Hart, there is likely more to the suspension than what the public knows.
Q: What do you think about Jimmy’s suspension
“I will say this. Whenever you see something like that, and whatever you see, it’s way more to it. I think there’s way more to it” @jalenbrunson1
“We only see what is reported. Not sure what was going on closed doors-wise” @joshhart https://t.co/mNoaIxkkY5 pic.twitter.com/jrC4wLxhOr
— Dru (@dru_star) January 11, 2025
What is known is that a wide variety of factors have led Butler to be upset with the Heat and vice versa. However, people on the outside of the situation can’t be certain that they have all of the facts. It is a possibility that some things have been kept behind closed doors.
The last straw before Butler was suspended seemingly came on Jan. 2. With Butler and the Heat playing the second leg of a back-to-back, the veteran turned in a lackluster performance for the second game in a row.
Then, after the game, Butler made some very telling comments about having a lack of “joy” with the Heat. Shortly thereafter, an ESPN report came out which detailed Butler wanting to be traded.
Jimmy Butler with an extremely candid media session.
Said he wants his joy back on the court.
Asked if he can find that joy here, he replied "Probably not." pic.twitter.com/AwSLbstr4W
— Wes Goldberg (@wcgoldberg) January 3, 2025
BREAKING: Jimmy Butler has indicated to the Miami Heat he wants to be traded, per @ESPN
— Heat Nation (@HeatNationCom) January 3, 2025
The suspension came down on Jan. 3, and it has kept Butler off the floor ever since. He will be eligible to return on Jan. 17 against the Denver Nuggets.
When the six-time All-Star was initially suspended, many fans suspected that he had played his final game for Miami, but it now looks like he could indeed return to the team once he’s eligible to do so. The Heat haven’t been able to find a trade for him, so their options are limited.
If Butler does return to the team, it will be fascinating to see if the ongoing drama is evident on the court. In Butler’s last two games before being suspended, he didn’t look like himself, taking six or fewer shots and scoring under 10 points in each game.
The Heat are 19-17 this season as they try to make some progress in the Eastern Conference standings.
