Report: Miami Heat plan to suspend Jimmy Butler for two games

The Heat’s disgruntled star will now serve his second team suspension after appearing in just three games since his return. (Photo via Miami Herald)

Just a few weeks back, the Miami Heat handed Jimmy Butler a seven-game suspension due to ‘conduct detrimental to the team.’ This came after the disgruntled star publicly expressed a desire to be traded out of South Beach. Butler may have made his return to the Heat, but he is still finding ways to create havoc.

On Wednesday afternoon, Butler reportedly missed the team’s flight in preparation of their brief two-game road trip. These type of actions immediately resulted in a second suspension, as top NBA insider Shams Charania was the first to break the news.

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. pic.twitter.com/eABrZ8yv2k
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) January 22, 2025

Butler’s commitment to making things as ugly as possible was displayed once again with his failure to aboard the team flight. Now the organization has a reason to keep him away from the Heat for this brief road trip without pay.

The Sun Sentinel’s Ira Winderman iterated that Miami canceled practice on Wednesday morning last minute, which led to the team taking an earlier flight. Still, everyone else on the roster made it with no other issues outside of Butler.

This all transpires after the Heat forward provided minimal effort, or engagement with his teammates, over the last three games since his return from the first suspension. Butler is coming off a 13 points and 8 assists outing in Miami’s latest loss to the Portland Trail Blazers.

They were outscored by 19 points during his 27 minutes on the court.

Additionally, trending photos have appeared of Butler refusing to join the team huddle during timeouts. He has isolated himself from everyone involved, and the awkward tension can be felt as each game has gone by.

The way Jimmy Butler has decided to go out is going to change the perception of his entire Heat tenure with the fanbase

It’s sad because this is a top 3 player in franchise history

But will be remembered for quitting on his team & turning on all the people who’ve supported him.
— Hot Hot Hoops (@hothothoops) January 22, 2025

There could still be some light at the end of the tunnel. Charania also recently reported that the Heat have had “productive conversations” regarding an inevitable trade this week.

“The Heat have engaged in conversations to move him. This has become an untenable situation. In the words of some of their coaches & players; a distraction, chaos.

There’s an uneasy feeling in the air in Miami right now around Jimmy Butler.”

— Shams Charania #HeatNation pic.twitter.com/E9ULVOetKs
— Hot Hot Hoops (@hothothoops) January 23, 2025

The fact that Butler couldn’t just lock in for a final run with the roster finally improving internally and deal with his contract situation over the summer is questionable, to say the least. Instead, he has made this painful for everybody involved— including himself.

Pat Riley and the front office will now be given around 72+ hours to work on finally ending this messy relationship with Butler. By the time his two-game suspension is up, the Heat will be playing on Monday back at home against the Orlando Magic.