Jimmy Butler Returns to Court, Speaks on Trade Rumors and Future
Two weeks after serving a seven-game suspension, Jimmy Butler returned to the court on Friday night, scoring 18 points on 7-of-15 shooting in the Miami Heat’s 133-113 loss to the Denver Nuggets.
Butler expressed frustration with reports surrounding his relationship with teammates and the front office, saying, “I expect for people to talk. Half the reason is because don’t nobody ever know what I’m really doing, so you just make up stuff, which is fine. And, honestly, I really don’t pay any attention to it. But I’ve got people telling me, ‘Oh they said this, they said that.’ So I guess it’s really all good. I don’t have to clear anything up.”
Butler, 35, has a $52.4 million player option for the 2025-26 NBA season, which he’s expected to decline and become an unrestricted free agent this summer. He’s also drawing trade interest from the Phoenix Suns, who are reportedly among the teams interested in acquiring him before the February 6th NBA trade deadline.
In 23 games this season, Butler is averaging 17.6 points, 5.4 rebounds, 4.6 assists, and 1.2 steals per game, while shooting 54.7% from the field, 35.3% from three-point range, and 79.4% from the free throw line. Miami is currently 20-20, good for the ninth seed in the Eastern Conference.
