MIAMI — Jimmy Butler has expressed a desire to rediscover the joy he once felt while playing basketball. When asked about his happiness in Miami, he responded simply, “Probably not.”
The connection between Butler and the Miami Heat has been a hot topic for several weeks, and it appears to have worsened recently. In their game against Indiana, which ended in a 128-115 defeat, Butler managed to score only nine points and sat out the entire fourth quarter for the second game in a row—having not played in the final period the previous evening against New Orleans as well.
Butler stated, “What do I want to see happen? I want to see me get my joy back from playing basketball, wherever that may be — we’ll find out here pretty soon. I want to get my joy back. I’m content off the court, but on the court, I want to be dominant. I want to play and help this team win, but right now, I’m not accomplishing that.”
The future remains uncertain for Butler and the Heat, as there are no practices scheduled for Friday, with a game against Utah set for Saturday.
Reports have emerged that Butler has implied to the team he wishes to be traded, although he has not publicly confirmed this desire. Speculation regarding his potential trade has intensified, especially after indications that he would prefer a move by the February 6 deadline. This situation prompted the Heat to take the rare step of announcing last week that they would not be trading him.
Butler’s recent performance has certainly not reflected his usual standards. Throughout the game against Indiana, he largely camped in the corner, taking just six shots in 27 minutes of play and attempting only five shots in the previous game. Head coach Erik Spoelstra even shifted Butler to a point guard role at times during the third quarter in an attempt to ignite his game—without success.
“He’s obviously frustrated; he’s just standing in the corner,” noted Heat captain Bam Adebayo. “He has a lot going on in his mind. We must keep our focus on the main goal, as our coach reminds us. Winning is our priority.”
Butler maintained he felt focused and believed he fulfilled his role during the game, although he acknowledged this role has changed significantly over time. “That’s not how I’ve always played,” he said. “For the first few years of my career, I was just out there playing aggressive defense and competing. That’s what I’m doing now.”
This marks the first time Butler has failed to reach double-digit points in three consecutive games since November 2013. In a game against Oklahoma City, he was sidelined early due to a twisted ankle and illness.
Despite his struggles, Butler has shown glimpses of his elite capabilities, including a standout performance this season where he scored 35 points, grabbed 19 rebounds, provided 10 assists, and made four steals against Detroit on December 16. However, he has also been limited to 10 points or fewer on six occasions this season, with two of those instances occurring due to early exits because of health concerns.
“We attempted to involve him more,” remarked guard Tyler Herro following the loss to Indiana.
Butler has been a key figure for two Heat teams that reached the NBA Finals. He became eligible for a substantial two-year, $113 million contract extension last summer, but the Heat have yet to present him with a new deal. He has a player option valued at $52 million for the upcoming season or he might choose to enter free agency if he remains on the team past the trade deadline.
Spoelstra has expressed his intention to keep Butler in Miami, attributing his recent struggles partly to a nearly two-week absence due to illness. Wednesday’s game was Butler’s return after that hiatus.
“It’s about being aggressive,” Spoelstra stated before Butler’s postgame comments. “We need to solve this issue together. It’s something we all need to figure out.”
Regardless of the circumstances, Butler insisted he would keep competing. “I’m going out there to win, whether I score nine points or 29 points,” he emphasized. “You won’t see me not giving my all. It might appear to some that I’m not fighting hard, but even if my shots are down, I won’t allow anyone to claim that I’m not playing hard.”