Jimmy Butler’s sixth season with the Miami Heat was turbulent.
The team recently suspended the six-time All-Star for the second time in three weeks — a move that further fueled the belief that Butler has already played his last game for the franchise.
Butler drew the latest suspension for what the team in a statement called “an ongoing pattern of disregard for team rules, insubordinate conduct and conduct detrimental to the team,” including missing the steal of the heat towards Milwaukee earlier today. The Heat were scheduled to play the Bucks on Thursday, before traveling to New York for a game with the Brooklyn Nets on January 25.
On Thursday’s edition of TNT’s long-running “Inside the NBA,” Ernie Johnson, Shaquille O’Neal, Charles Barkley and Kenny Smith discussed the drama surrounding Butler.
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Miami Heat forward Jimmy Butler (22) leaves the court after the game against the Detroit Pistons at Little Caesars Arena. (Images Rick Osentoski-imagn)
O’Neal argued that it’s “human nature” for Butler to want to land with another team when his contract situation is taken into consideration.
“I just think in this situation it’s more about human nature,” O’Neal noted. “I know exactly how Jimmy feels, I’ve been in this situation many times. Everything I’ve done for you, and you won’t give me what I want, so human nature kicks in… The part I hate about this basketball thing, it always has to be the someone’s fault. ”
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Butler, 34, has one year remaining on his deal and has a $52 million player option for the 2025-26 season. He is eligible for a two-year, $113 million extension. However, it doesn’t appear the Heat have extended such an offer to Butler, largely because he has missed about 25% of the team’s games since joining in 2019.
Nonetheless, Johnson, Barkley, and Smith all expressed views that opposed O’Neal’s thoughts.
TNT NBA Tip presented by Carmax Broadcasts Live before the game on October 24, 2023, at The Ball Arena in Denver, Colorado. (Jamie Schwaberow/NBAE via Getty Images)
“You can’t just not show up for work,” Barkley responded.
“You took the $50 [million] For this year and next year,” Smith added.
While Johnson usually acts as a referee when the trio of NBA players engage in heated exchanges on the show, he challenged O’Neal after the four-time NBA player doubled down on his position.
“You don’t feel a responsibility when you’re under contract this season to play this season?” Johnson asked.
Jimmy Butler #22 of the Miami Heat prepares to shoot a free throw against the Washington Wizards on February 2, 2024 at Capital One Arena in Washington, DC (Kenny Giarla/NBAE via Getty Images)
Barkley also suggested that Butler owed it to the fans and his teammates to put his feelings about the contract situation and do his part to help the Heat win games.
“You can get angry at the Miami Heat organization, but Miami fans and these guys in this locker room have nothing to do with you wanting a contract extension.”
Butler was banned for seven games earlier this month, costing him approximately $2.4 million in salary.
Money may not be the only contributing factor to Butler’s unhappiness. Butler has made no secret that he is unhappy with what he says is his new role in the Heat offense. He did not participate in his usual manner during the introduction of Heat starters in a recent game, and he sometimes sat by himself during timeouts without engaging with the group.
Butler has told the Heat in recent weeks that he wants a trade, according to multiple reports. The request was not made publicly, because NBA rules do not allow players to do so. The NBA trade deadline is February 6.
