Miami Heat star Jimmy Butler has once again been suspended by the team after missing a flight to Milwaukee. The club made the official announcement on Wednesday. Butler, who had just returned from a seven-game suspension for expressing his desire to leave Miami, will now serve a two-game suspension.
The franchise explained its decision in a note:
‘We have suspended Jimmy Butler for two games for continued disrespectful behavior towards team rules, insubordinate conduct and behavior detrimental to the team, including missing today’s game for Milwaukee.’
Butler, currently in his 15th year in the NBA, played a crucial role in leading the Miami Heat to the NBA Finals in 2020, where the team lost to the Los Angeles Lakers, and again in 2023, when Miami lost to the Denver Nuggets. However, Butler’s relationship with the franchise appears to be deteriorating, fuelled by rumours of an alleged falling out with team president Pat Riley.
What does the future hold for Butler?
The tense atmosphere and recent disciplinary incidents could indicate that Butler’s relationship with the Miami Heat has come to an end. With the NBA market still active, it’s not out of the question for the team to consider a swap in the coming weeks, to avoid further tensions within the squad.