Jimmy Butler’s time with the Miami Heat is seemingly nearing an end, but in the short term, he’s not going to be on the court for the team.
The six-time NBA All-Star has been suspended for the next seven games by the Heat due to “conduct detrimental to the team over the course of the season and particularly the last several weeks.”
The decision to suspend Butler came just one day after a bizarre moment during a press conference in which he all but said he wanted to play elsewhere.
“What do I want to see happen? I want to see me get my joy back from playing basketball and wherever that may be, we’ll find out pretty soon,” he said. “I want to get my joy back. I’m happy here off the court, but I want to be back to somewhat dominant, I want to hoop and I want to help this team win. Right now, I’m not doing that.”
When asked if he could regain his joy on the court with the Heat, he simply replied “probably not.”
Jimmy Butler: I’m happy here, off the court, but I want to be back to somewhat dominant. I want to hoop and I want to help this team win. right now I’m not doing that.
Question: Can you get your joy back here on the court?
Jimmy Butler: probably not pic.twitter.com/KfYGR4YFOP
— Brendan Tobin (@Brendan_Tobin) January 3, 2025
Miami HEAT statement on Jimmy Butler:
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.
— Miami HEAT (@MiamiHEAT) January 4, 2025
With Butler out of the action, it will be costly in terms of lost salary, but not exactly in the grand scheme of his annual salary which sits just shy of $50 million.
He will lose $346,543 per game missed for a grand total of $2.35 million, or just 1/145 of his salary.
The Jimmy Butler suspension will cost $346,543 for each game missed.
7 game total: $2.35M
Formula
1/145 of his $48.8M salary
— Bobby Marks (@BobbyMarks42) January 4, 2025
Butler has been a superstar during his six seasons in Miami, but that marriage is likely coming to an end, and a suspension probably won’t help him find that joy again.
