The Jimmy Butler period in Miami was an advanced one.
Butler will at all times be remembered fondly in a Miami Warmth jersey, regardless of how his time led to South Seashore.
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And on Tuesday evening, Butler returned to Miami as a member of the Golden State Warriors for the primary time since Pat Riley begrudgingly traded the All-Star away in February.
And Butler did not need to hear something from the group’s president.
“I’ve nothing to say to Pat, and Pat higher don’t have anything to say to me,” Butler instructed TNT’s Taylor Rooks earlier than the sport.
The Warmth paid tribute to Butler’s 5½ seasons with the group with a pregame video to honor the participant who led them to 2 NBA Finals appearances and three Japanese Convention Finals appearances.
The group cheered for Butler as he was launched within the Warriors beginning line-up, and he acknowledged and waved to the Miami followers.
That is about so far as it went.
Butler spoke earlier than the sport about how he was and is portrayed and that he would not care to offer all of the noise an excessive amount of consideration, if any.
“I’m at all times painted because the dangerous man,” Butler stated.
“In every single place I’ve been, I’ve at all times been an issue. We’ll take it. I don’t acquired nothing to say. I’m not mad at being a foul man.
“It’s all the best way all the things’s portrayed. Some folks discuss to the media, some folks don’t. I’ve by no means been one to inform my aspect of the story to nearly anyone.
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“Let all people assume that that is what occurred. We’ll journey with it.”
Butler and the Warmth’s relationship fizzed on the finish because the 6x-time All-Star wished an extension and had more and more grown annoyed along with his function on the group.
Riley and the Warmth by no means provided Butler the extension he was on the lookout for, citing the rationale was he lacking about 25% of their video games throughout his time in Miami.
Each side had honest complaints.
This ultimately led to awkward suspensions and absences earlier than lastly, Butler was traded to Golden State.
The Warriors instantly gave him the extension he was on the lookout for, signing a two-year, $111 million deal.
For the reason that commerce in February, Butler and the Warriors are a scorching 16-3 with the previous Warmth star within the lineup.
Whereas Butler acknowledged the sour-ending that befell in Miami, he wasn’t keen to just accept full accountability for what transpired and hoped the fan aren’t both.
“I’m wondering in the event that they take a look at the Warmth the identical manner,” Butler stated.
“It ain’t like I used to be the one who was doing all the things. It’s acquired to be 50-50, perhaps 51-49 — 49 in the direction of them, 51 in the direction of me.
“However there’s no manner that I used to be the reason for all of this.”
The Warmth in the meantime have fully nose-dived this season and are at the moment 11 video games beneath .500 at 30-41.
Ok for tenth within the Japanese Convention.
Whereas the Warriors are hovering, the Warmth are circling the drain.
And for that, Miami followers cannot be too welcoming and forgiving of their former star despite the fact that he helped ship time and time once more, within the clutch, shattering expectations and ceilings for a group who wasn’t at all times essentially the most proficient.
Even with the tribute video and applause, now was not the time.
No less than not but.