Jimmy Butler will join the Miami Heat for Friday night’s game against Denver Nuggets after his seven-game suspension ended. He was expected to be in the Heat’s starting lineup, Chris Haynes reported. Erik Spoelstra, Miami coach confirmed that Butler would start during his pre-match media session.
Butler’s agent, Bernie Lee, released a statement announcing his client’s return, imitating Michael Jordan’s announcement in two words on his return to the NBA in 1995: “I’m back”.
Butler continued the theme by posting several photos of himself on social media wearing the No. 45 Chicago Bulls jersey that Jordan wore upon his return.
He last played with the Heat January 2 against the Indiana Pacersscoring nine points with four assists in 27 minutes. After the match, he told reporters: “I want to find my joy again” and said it probably wouldn’t happen in Miami. The team suspended Butler the next day for “several instances of conduct detrimental to the team.”
In 22 games this season, Butler averaged 17.6 points, 5.5 rebounds and 4.7 assists while shooting 38% from 3-point range.
Tensions between Butler and the Heat became public after Miami was eliminated from the NBA playoffs by the Boston Celtics. Butler missed the entire five-game series with a knee injury suffered during a play-in defeat against the Philadelphia 76ers. He irritated team president Pat Riley saying Miami would have beaten the Celtics if he could have played.
Butler’s real problem with Miami is that he wants a contract extension, looking to a maximum extension of $113 million over two years. However, the Heat are not interested in extending Butler, which has fueled the veteran’s discontent and preference for a trade.
