ORLANDO — The last time the Miami Heat were here for real, it was surreal.
Now, 10 months later, with the Heat opening their 2025-26 season on Wednesday night against the Orlando Magic, Jimmy Butler, from his new vista, is offering a reminder what a twisted and tormented ride the 2024-25 season was for Erik Spoelstra’s team.
It was on Dec. 26, the Heat’s final visit of last season to Kia Center, that the swirl grew of Butler’s discontent with the Heat amid an extension window that was providing no payoff for the All-Star forward.
That left the Heat, in advance of that night’s game against the Magic, to answer the ESPN Christmas Day report of Butler targeting specific relocation destinations. Butler was away from the team at the time, due to what was listed as a stomach illness.
At the time, Spoelstra said at a morning shootaround at Kia Center, similar to the one held by the Heat on Wednesday morning, “The more any of us talk about it, the more fuel it gets. It’s just really unfortunate that it just continues to build momentum outside of our building.”
Shortly thereafter, Heat president Pat Riley, in the rare acknowledgement of trade conjecture, issued a statement that read, “We usually don’t comment on rumors, but all this speculation has become a distraction to the team and is not fair to the players and coaches. Therefore, we will make it clear — We are not trading Jimmy Butler.”
Six weeks later — a month after Butler stated he had lost “his joy” of playing for the Heat — Butler was traded to the Golden State Warriors.
End of the story?
Not close, not with Butler insisting he has been rejuvenated at Golden State, back in playoff contention at a time the Heat are searching for direction. As for opening statements, there could not have been a stronger one than the 31 points Butler scored in the Warriors’ season-opening 119-109 victory Tuesday night over the Los Angeles Lakers, when Butler went 16 of 16 from the line.
Days earlier, in an interview with the San Francisco Chronicle, Butler reflected on the path that had delivered him to the Warriors and what he left behind after 5 1/2 seasons with the Heat.
“All that noise, all that chaos paid off in a major way,” Butler said of his path of greatest resistance that preceded his Heat departure, a runway that included three team suspensions totalling 14 games. “I’m lucky to be part of this phenomenal organization. Everywhere starts off great, but then you know someone has to be the bad guy, and it gets to be me. I’m always the one doing something unbearable all of a sudden.”
A stream of Heat fines totalling $5.7 million in fines/lost salary followed in the wake of Butler’s actions last season, from missing a team flight to a game in Milwaukee to exiting a shootaround when told he would not be starting.
“But that’s OK,” Butler continued in the interview of last season’s chaos. “I get to play in this wonderful league, with amazing teammates. But being here, they’ve only got one goal. To keep hanging those things up on the wall. Ain’t no hidden agendas.”
The Heat offered a tribute video amid Butler’s return last season with the Warriors, with practically no Heat comment on the Butler contretemps after his trade.
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“All of the talk, all of the smoke, there’s really only one person that didn’t say anything, who just went on with his life,” Butler said in his recent interview. “Let people talk, the people that are lying know they’re lying. But I don’t need to correct anything, that’s behind me.”
The Heat host the Warriors on Nov. 19 at Kaseya Center, with the second of the season’s two games against the Warriors on Jan. 19 at Chase Center.
“Jimmy just settles us down,” Golden State coach Steve Kerr said after Tuesday night’s victory.
Said Warriors forward Draymond Green, “He’s been a great leader since the day he showed up. He encourages teammates, tells guys what he sees, and makes corrections. He’s a constant reminder not to sulk or drop your shoulders. When you ask for opportunity, you must deliver. Jimmy’s vocal, he puts his neck on the line, and he delivered.”
With Stephen Curry, Butler said, making the job simpler.
“Everybody pays attention to Steph,” Butler said. “I got the easy job.”
With chatter put aside?
“You just let people talk,” Butler said Tuesday night.
