Jimmy Butler, the Miami Heat’s standout small forward, was suspended for seven games on Friday. The franchise also stated that it will consider trade offers.
In an X post, the Heat stated that Butler’s ban was due to his actions, which have harmed the team all season long.
Jimmy Butler has received a seven-game suspension for numerous acts that have harmed the team over the season, especially in the past few weeks,” the team announced.
A request for comment Friday night was not immediately answered by a Butler representative.
The National Basketball Players Association, the NBA players’ union, said that it would contest the punishment.
“The 7-game suspension imposed tonight by the Miami Heat on Jimmy Butler is excessive and inappropriate, and we intend to file a grievance challenging the discipline,” the union said on X.
A day after Butler said he wanted to leave the team he led to two NBA Finals, he was suspended.
Butler claimed he was no longer enjoying playing in Miami on Thursday night.
I want to imagine myself playing basketball again and feeling happy. He informed reporters, “We’ll find out here pretty soon, wherever that may be.” Off the court, I’m content, but I want to get back to being a little more dominant. I want to hoop and help this team win, but I’m not doing that right now.
Butler responded, “Probably not,” when asked if he could rediscover his happiness while playing for the Heat.
Following the Heat’s 128-115 loss against the Indiana Pacers, in which Butler only scored nine points, the six-time all-star made these remarks. Additionally, he had only scored nine points against the New Orleans Pelicans the day before.
Butler “has indicated to the Miami Heat he wants the team to trade him,” according to a report by ESPN later Thursday, which quoted league sources. That reporting has not been independently confirmed by NBC News.
Erik Spoelstra, the coach of the Heat, has partially blamed Butler’s two-week illness absence for the team’s consecutive poor performances.
However, the remarks about finding happiness coincide with deteriorating ties with club management, which have stoked weeks of conjecture.
ESPN revealed on Christmas Day that Butler would have preferred a trade before the deadline of February 6. In an unusual comment, Heat president Pat Riley responded, saying, “We will make it clear—we are not trading Jimmy Butler.”
However, the Heat stated in a post on Friday that “and his representative have indicated that they wish to be traded, therefore, we will listen to offers.”
“Through his actions and statements, he has shown he no longer wants to be part of this team,” the Miami Heat stated.
Before the 2024–25 season, when Butler was eligible for a two-year, $113 million extension, the Heat made the decision not to extend his contract.
Due to a knee injury, Butler was unable to play in the Heat’s first-round playoff series last season. Butler said on social media after the club’s series defeat to the Boston Celtics that if he had been healthy, the team would have won.
Riley replied, “You should keep your mouth shut if you’re not on the court playing.”
According to sources cited by ESPN, Butler has stated that he is open to playing somewhere other than Miami next.
The 35-year-old, who is in the last year of a $49 million contract and is eligible to become a free agent in July, is well-known for his aggressive two-way approach and crucial playoff scoring.
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