NBA
Jimmy Butler’s “disappointing” freeze-out frustrates Heat teammates
The Miami Heat will be without the 35-year-old due to suspension. His teammates have spoken out for the first time.
The Miami Heat will be hoping to bounce back from a recent loss to the Indianna Pacers when they take on the Utah Jazz on Saturday night. The team will also be looking to move on from the controversy surrounding Jimmy Butler, who now begins his seven-game suspension.
Butler has been sidelined who what has been described as “conduct detrimental to the team” and Miami are reportedly willing to acquiesce to his trade demands. Speaking on Saturday, ahead of the Jazz clash, team captain Bam Adebayo spoke publicly about the uneasy situation that threatens to overshadow the game.
“It’s disappointing when you see the organization and a player going head to head like that,” Adebayo said after the team’s shootaround practice. “But the rest of us got to figure out how to win games.”
“I feel like he came to work, he tried to perform, and it just didn’t go his way,” Adebayo continued. “I feel like he didn’t want to be in the corner. But like I said, we develop a system where we play around everybody, and we just had to figure out how to incorporate him. But after what happened yesterday, we’re focused on who’s with us now.”
Heat guard Terry Rozier was more direct in his response, acknowledging that the absence of Butler will be a loss: “It sucks to see that he won’t be around.”
Why was Jimmy Butler’s suspended by the Miami Heat?
The Heat have been deliberately vague in their public comments on the situation, but have made clear that Butler’s out-spoken comments have crossed a line. Miami issued a strongly-worded statement on Friday.
It read: “We have suspended Jimmy Butler for seven games for multiple instances of conduct detrimental to the team over the course of the season and particularly the last several weeks.
“Through his actions and statements, he has shown he no longer wants to be part of this team. Jimmy Butler and his representative have indicated that they wish to be traded, therefore, we will listen to offers.”
Butler has publicly demanded to be traded, eager to find a move away from the franchise. Speaking after the heavy Pacers loss, Butler was asked if he expected to stay in Miami.
He replied: “Probably not. I want to get my joy back. I’m happy here, off the court, but I want to be back to somewhere dominant. I want to hoop and I want to help this team win. Right now, I’m not doing that.”
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