MIAMI — Jimmy Butler made a notable entrance back into the Miami Heat locker room on Friday night, sporting a Michael Jordan jersey. However, it wasn’t the iconic No. 23 but rather the No. 45 jersey that Jordan wore briefly upon his return to the Chicago Bulls in March 1995. The symbolism was unmistakable: “I’m back.”

Butler’s seven-game suspension, which the Heat imposed due to conduct considered detrimental to the team, has now come to an end. He made his much-anticipated return to the court after being absent for two weeks, contributing 18 points to the team’s 133-113 defeat against the Denver Nuggets. “This is basketball at this point,” remarked Butler. “I know what I’m expected to do while I’m here.”

The real question remains: How long will Butler stay with the Heat? The organization indicated that Butler expressed a desire for a trade when they suspended him earlier this month and that they would look into accommodating that request. However, Butler hasn’t publicly announced such a demand, as making that statement could expose him to fines of up to $150,000 under league regulations. “There was a lot said by everybody, except for me, to tell you the truth,” Butler explained. “We’ll let people keep talking… The whole truth will come out. Until then, if I’m here, I will get out there and play.”

Upon his return, Butler’s reception was a mixed bag of cheers and boos during introductions, a rarity for home games. After missing a shot on Miami’s first offensive possession, he netted his first points with a dunk just under eight minutes into the game. Unfortunately for the home crowd, there was little else for them to celebrate, as Denver maintained control throughout the contest.

“I know what storylines you’re looking for,” Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra remarked, opting not to delve into the surrounding drama. “I’m not feeding into any of that. We got our asses kicked.” Butler’s agent, Bernie Lee, shared a brief message on social media from Butler, simply stating, “I’m back,” echoing the iconic fax that announced Jordan’s return in 1995.

Last summer, Butler became eligible for a two-year, $113 million contract extension with the Heat, but it was not offered. This decision was influenced in part by Heat President Pat Riley’s remarks that the team wants Butler — who has sat out roughly one in every four games since joining the Heat for various reasons — to be more reliably available. In essence, the franchise could not justify investing such a significant amount in a player with a history of missing games.

Butler voiced confidence at the team’s media day in late September, declaring his intention to show that he deserves such a contract. “I guess I’ve got to go and hoop,” he stated. “I’ve got to prove that I am a major part of winning and rightfully so. I’ve done it before. This is no different… That will take care of itself.”

In recent weeks, there has been some light-heartedness around the situation, highlighted by Miami forward Kevin Love’s entertaining Instagram posts. However, for the Heat organization, the ongoing circumstances are serious, hinting at a potential trade for Butler before the February 6 deadline or even his departure as a free agent during summer.

On the lighter side, Butler expressed enjoyment in Love’s posts: “I laugh a lot,” he said. “My happiness off the court is at an all-time high. I’ve got the babies, I’ve got my friends, a lot of dominoes and coffee is involved. I like Kev, but he’s not more petty than I am.”

The suspension has cost Butler roughly $2.4 million; however, the National Basketball Players Association plans to file an appeal, which could either reduce or eliminate the financial impact of the suspension. “Look, we work in a league of complexity,” Spoelstra noted prior to the game. “We’re in an unusual place right now, but really, all it is, is complex. And we fully plan on operating within this complexity. So, it’s my job to prepare this team and get them ready to play at a high level. And that’s what I’m doing. That’s what the plan is.”

As for what comes next, Butler’s response regarding his status in Miami after the February trade deadline was simple. “We’ll hoop,” he said.