Jimmy Butler wants out of the Miami Heat. ;
Per NBA senior insiders Shams Charania and Brian Windhorst, Butler has requested a trade from Heat management--the latest in the saga between the two sides.
Jimmy Butler has told the Miami Heat that he wants to be traded, per @ShamsCharania & @WindhorstESPN
— NBA on TNT (@NBAonTNT) January 3, 2025
Reports also indicated that the veteran is open to play anywhere but Miami, who is just coming off a 128-115 loss against the Indiana Pacers earlier.
He scored nine points and once again did not play in the fourth quarter for the second straight game coming from a two-week absence due to an illness.
[ALSO READ: Heat coach Erik Spoelstra explains late Jimmy Butler benching vs Pelicans]
In a candid post-game interview, Butler expressed his need to find "joy" again in playing.
“I want to see me get my joy back from playing basketball and wherever that may be, we'll find out pretty soon. I want to get my joy back. I'm happy here off the court, but I want to be back to somewhat dominant, I want to hoop and I want to help this team win. Right now, I'm not doing that."
Jimmy Butler said after tonight’s game that he will probably not get his joy back playing basketball until he’s traded from the Heat:
— Evan Sidery (@esidery) January 3, 2025
“Wherever that {new team} may be, we’ll find out soon. I want to get my joy back.”
Butler is escalating his actions ahead of the trade deadline.
And when asked if he believes he can get back what’s missing from him in Miami, Butler had a brutally honest response.
"Probably not," he said.
"Probably not."
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) January 3, 2025
—Jimmy Butler when asked if he could get his joy back in Miami.
During his time with the Heat, Butler led the squad to two Finals appearances and three East Finals berths while averaging 21.1 points, 6.1 rebounds, and 5.7 assists in 313 games.
