After Thursday’s 13-point loss to the Indiana Pacers on Friday, Miami Heat star wing Jimmy Butler told reporters he doesn’t have joy playing basketball with the organization while subsequently requesting a trade.
But lost in the sauce were comments regarding his new role upon returning from a two-week long illness, logging back-to-back nine-point performances against the New Orleans Pelicans (25 minutes) and Indiana Pacers (27 minutes), respectively.
“I felt great. I was focused. Felt like I did my job well. At least what my job is now,” he said. “It can be my role here. But that’s not what I’m used to. I haven’t been that since my first, second, third year in the league where I just went out there and just played defense. I compete. I guarded. I tried not to let my man score. That’s what I’m doing now. … (putting the ball in my hands) ain’t gonna fix it.”
Butler then responded that he wanted to find joy playing basketball again, so on and so forth.
One could argue that Butler’s aforementioned comments were jabs at multiple people–including Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra. Here were Spoelstra’s comments about his role before Butler’s presser.
“Whatever we got to do,” Spoelstra said. “If we got to get him activated, put the ball in his hands and play point. He’s done it before. We know how to get him going, he knows how to get going. These are not two strangers. Aberrational, activate on Saturday. … We got to figure it out, I’ll figure it out. And then he’s got to figure it out too.”
Butler’s usage in both games were 12.2 percent and 14.0 percent, which were his 3rd and 5th lowest usages of the season, respectively.
But the fact was his role wasn’t that much different on the court–if at all. He was disengaged offensively in both games, while being passable defensively in certain spots. His new “role” doesn’t mean he shouldn’t to consistently be engaged, hunt for his shot or be disruptive defensively, which he wasn’t. His role also doesn’t say he should take an ill-advised one-legged 3-pointer when he is getting the ball with nine seconds left in the shot clock, which he did.
Erik Spoelstra was correct with not playing him in the fourth quarter in both games, and Butler was wrong for calling arguably the best coach in the NBA out for something that Spoelstra is doing his restore. Though Spoelstra’s attempt was never going to fix the crux of the issue: This isn’t about role for Butler, it’s about money. It always has been, and it always was going to be. Jimmy Butler, one of the most stubborn players in the NBA, is in a face-to-face standoff with Pat Riley, one of the most stubborn individuals in basketball history. This isn’t about role, and there’s no reason to subtly throw Spoelstra under the bus because of it.
At the time of Butler’s comments, he was just over two weeks removed from putting together one of the best performances of his career against the Detroit Pistons, scoring 35 points on 12-of-21 shooting with 19 rebounds and 10 assists. Of course, he dealt with a two-week long illness and was working to get back into game shape before he returned. But that doesn’t mean he was engaged in both games; what changed in his role over the last two weeks outside of not intentionally seeking the ball offensively?
You could also argue that Tyler Herro’s emergence is beneficial to Butler at this stage of his career. That doesn’t mean he can’t pick his spots to be aggressive when the ball’s in his hands–but he didn’t seek that opportunity on Wednesday nor Thursday. We are watching him play the most efficient basketball of his career, even if he’s not scoring 20 points every night. Jimmy Butler’s role didn’t change over night.
Jimmy Butler is suspended for seven games–which is the best for both sides. Erik Spoelstra is also far from perfect. Every coach is. But he’s the most respected coach in the NBA by his peers, and he’s consistently had Butler’s–and the rest of his players’–back through all the noise over the last several years. This isn’t the first time that the two have gotten into it, but Butler is justifiably wrong here because we all know the reason for Butler’s lack of consistent energy on the court isn’t because of what’s happening–or not happening–on the court.
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We’ve seen a lot of drama lately. And I don’t know what to make of it tbh. First I thought it was only about the money. Jimmy wanted his extension (logically), Riley didn’t want to give him one (also logically, since he doesn’t seem to be the same player that got paid 50 million a year anymore). But recently it seems it got personal. I think we are still missing something in the whole story.
riley started it by criticiaing jimmy for saying if i was healthy we would have been boston.riley said basically he wasnt avail so stfu.no extension for jimmy was the right move age 35 prime time jimmy 24 7 done.he can only do it in small spurts.
Butler started it by thinking he could slack off last season and step it up in the playoffs. Then he got hurt in the play-in game and was out for the Boston series. Then he had the audacity to say if he had played Boston would have lost. Riley put him in his place. Then he demanded a max contract extension or else. Then he said he was opting out and signing elsewhere. Then he missed games this season for BS reason and doesn’t return for 2 weeks for “conditioning.” Then he slacks off some more when he returns. Then he demands to be traded. FTS!
Tbh I didn’t like what Jimmy had said. Heat barely made it to the playoffs after a really disappointing season, then got eliminated 4:1. It wasn’t even close. It wasn’t the same Boston that we had beat a year ago. They got better. Jimmy’s comments were simply ridiculous.
Jimmy is often passive in first half of the game. He used to pick up latter, but lately often didn’t.
I cant recall more then handfull moments to be aggressive this year, driving hard to the basket, where he is one of the best. Does he sabotages the team? Saved himselves? Or he is just old?
Who knows.
Even Bam, known that he is often not aggressive enough in offence, pushed himselves in that area (with sometimes poor results).
Butler was the best player of this team, he has right to demand to be in position to be aggressive. Does he? In my opinion not.