Not again for Jimmy Butler.
For the second time in a month, Butler got suspended. This time, he would sit out for two games because of missing the team’s flight to Milwaukee. NBA senior insider Shams Charania first reported the development.
The Miami Heat are planning to suspend Jimmy Butler for two games, sources tell ESPN. Butler missed a team flight Wednesday and had plans to join the Heat tonight. Now Miami is keeping him home from its two-game road trip.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) January 22, 2025
That means Butler will miss tomorrow’s duel with the Bucks and Sunday’s game against the Brooklyn Nets. The earliest the 35-year-old veteran could play is at home against the Orlando Magic.
Miami earlier handed a seven-game suspension to Butler for “multiple instances of conduct detrimental to the team" after his controversial post-game remarks in the Heat’s loss to the Indiana Pacers last January 3.
[ALSO READ: Amidst trade rumors, Jimmy Butler unsure on future with Heat: “Who knows?”]
Along with the suspension, the organization also stated that they are “willing to trade offers” to their disgruntled star.
[ALSO READ: Heat suspends Jimmy Butler for seven games, willing to 'listen to trade offers']
Butler returned in Miami’s lopsided loss against the Denver Nuggets last week. He played two more games before the recent developments.
A multiple-time All-Star, Jimmy ‘Buckets’ averaged 13 points, 3.4 rebounds and 5.7 assists during that span where the Heat went 1-2.
The Butler-Heat relationship has significantly declined since rumors of a potential trade started over a month ago with Butler seems to be forcing Miami's hand at a deal ahead of the February 6 trade deadline.
Since joining the team in 2019, he led Miami to the NBA Finals twice in four years and averaged 21 points, six rebounds and six assists in 315 career games with the Heat.
