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MIAMI — Warm and fuzzy left the building in the buildup to Jimmy Butler’s move to the Golden State Warriors at the Feb. 6 NBA trading deadline.
So, no, the former Miami Heat forward is hardly casting Tuesday night’s return to Kaseya Center as any type of full-circle, emotional moment.
“Yeah, I was traded from there, yada, yada, yada,” Butler told reporters Saturday night in Atlanta after scoring 25 points in the Warriors’ 124-115 loss to the Hawks. “But that’s so far behind me now. I don’t even think about it. I don’t pay attention to nothing except for the trajectory of this squad.”
It is a trajectory that has been in stark contrast to the depths of the Heat fell since that trade that netted Andrew Wiggins, Davion Mitchell, Kyle Anderson and the Warriors’ 2025 first-round pick. The Warriors are 16-4 since Butler’s Feb. 8 Golden State debut, with the Heat entering Sunday night’s game against the visiting Charlotte Hornets at 4-17 since the trade.
While Butler helped lead the Heat to the 2020 and 2023 NBA Finals during his 5 1/2-season tenure in Miami, as well as an additional visit to the Eastern Conference finals, he downplayed the return to an arena where he achieved some of his most profound career moments.
“We were alright,” he said of his Heat tenure. “We didn’t win anything like we were supposed to. So I don’t know. We made some cool runs. We had some fun, but that’s all we did.”
In the immediate wake of the trade, Butler spoke of relationships built in South Florida, of a career redefined.
“I don’t got too many bad things to say about them. I don’t,” he said of the Heat during his initial Warriors media session last month. “They gave me an opportunity. I felt like I did my job to the highest level. I have so much respect for that organization, for the people that’s running that organization and for my former teammates. And I’m going to wish them the best.”
Now? Butler on Saturday largely downplayed his Heat era.
“It didn’t end the way people wanted it to, yada yada yada,” he said. “But that’s so far behind me now.”
Instead, Butler spoke of the need to bounce back from the loss in Atlanta, with Butler still facing the possibility of starting a third consecutive postseason in the play-in round, a fate practically already assured for the Heat.
“I’m a member of the Golden State Warriors. I love that fan base,” Butler said when asked about his Heat following. “They showed me a lot of love while I was there. But I’m there to win now. I’m on the opposing team.”
Warriors teammate Draymond Green disagreed about the notion of Tuesday night’s nationally telecast matchup as just another game.
“We got Jimmy over here, I know this is a big game for him,” Green said. “They got Wiggs over there. I know it’s a huge game for him. We want to win for Jimmy; they’re going to want to win for Wiggs.”
For Butler, there will be ample time to soak in South Florida, with the Warriors having arrived Saturday night and not scheduled to depart until Thursday, idle after the Heat matchup until a Friday night road game against the New Orleans Pelicans.
Video tribute or not, fan embrace or not, Butler said the emotion of Tuesday night will be secondary.
“It doesn’t make no difference,” he said. “Another game for me, another game that we’re expected to win.”
Continue reading...
So, no, the former Miami Heat forward is hardly casting Tuesday night’s return to Kaseya Center as any type of full-circle, emotional moment.
“Yeah, I was traded from there, yada, yada, yada,” Butler told reporters Saturday night in Atlanta after scoring 25 points in the Warriors’ 124-115 loss to the Hawks. “But that’s so far behind me now. I don’t even think about it. I don’t pay attention to nothing except for the trajectory of this squad.”
It is a trajectory that has been in stark contrast to the depths of the Heat fell since that trade that netted Andrew Wiggins, Davion Mitchell, Kyle Anderson and the Warriors’ 2025 first-round pick. The Warriors are 16-4 since Butler’s Feb. 8 Golden State debut, with the Heat entering Sunday night’s game against the visiting Charlotte Hornets at 4-17 since the trade.
While Butler helped lead the Heat to the 2020 and 2023 NBA Finals during his 5 1/2-season tenure in Miami, as well as an additional visit to the Eastern Conference finals, he downplayed the return to an arena where he achieved some of his most profound career moments.
“We were alright,” he said of his Heat tenure. “We didn’t win anything like we were supposed to. So I don’t know. We made some cool runs. We had some fun, but that’s all we did.”
In the immediate wake of the trade, Butler spoke of relationships built in South Florida, of a career redefined.
“I don’t got too many bad things to say about them. I don’t,” he said of the Heat during his initial Warriors media session last month. “They gave me an opportunity. I felt like I did my job to the highest level. I have so much respect for that organization, for the people that’s running that organization and for my former teammates. And I’m going to wish them the best.”
Now? Butler on Saturday largely downplayed his Heat era.
“It didn’t end the way people wanted it to, yada yada yada,” he said. “But that’s so far behind me now.”
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Instead, Butler spoke of the need to bounce back from the loss in Atlanta, with Butler still facing the possibility of starting a third consecutive postseason in the play-in round, a fate practically already assured for the Heat.
“I’m a member of the Golden State Warriors. I love that fan base,” Butler said when asked about his Heat following. “They showed me a lot of love while I was there. But I’m there to win now. I’m on the opposing team.”
Warriors teammate Draymond Green disagreed about the notion of Tuesday night’s nationally telecast matchup as just another game.
“We got Jimmy over here, I know this is a big game for him,” Green said. “They got Wiggs over there. I know it’s a huge game for him. We want to win for Jimmy; they’re going to want to win for Wiggs.”
For Butler, there will be ample time to soak in South Florida, with the Warriors having arrived Saturday night and not scheduled to depart until Thursday, idle after the Heat matchup until a Friday night road game against the New Orleans Pelicans.
Video tribute or not, fan embrace or not, Butler said the emotion of Tuesday night will be secondary.
“It doesn’t make no difference,” he said. “Another game for me, another game that we’re expected to win.”
Continue reading...
