‘Never hate you’ – Miami Heat fans know where blame for Jimmy Butler trade bombshell lies as Shaq weighs into debate
Jimmy Butler dropped a bombshell on Thursday night. The Miami Heat star admitted that he’s unhappy with his current team and believes there’s no way to find ‘joy’ playing in south Florida again. Butler has requested a trade from Miami, according to reportsGetty Speaking after a 128-115 loss to the Indiana Pacers, in which he put up just nine points, Butler indicated that he wants to be traded away from Miami. “I want to see me getting my joy back playing basketball,” the six-time All-Star said. “Wherever that may be, we’ll find out here pretty soon. “I’m happy here off the court, but I want to be back to somewhat dominant, I want to hoop and I want to help this team win, and right now I’m not doing it.” When pressed by reporters if he can get his joy back on the court with the Heat, Butler responded: “Probably not.” After the frosty press conference, ESPN reported that the 35-year-old star has indeed indicated he wants the team to trade him, and that he would be happy playing anywhere else – sending social media into meltdown. But while fans were left stunned by the mess that’s unfolding in Miami, many pointed the finger at Heat president Pat Riley, instead of Butler. “They will never make me hate you, Jimmy Butler. Pat Riley and company are actively killing my love for the NBA right now. Every single franchise player we ever have in Miami is driven away,” one wrote on X. “Pat Riley really ran LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Jimmy Butler outta town in a decade span. That’s crazy to me,” another said. “Jimmy Butler isn’t a villain to me. I don’t blame him. Pat Riley let him down. Sadly, it was leading to this point. We saw this man save the Heat, pull them from the gutter. It’s a shame,” a third suggested. Fans are pointing the finger at Riley for the mess with Butler Reports around Butler’s future have been bubbling for months, and when it was claimed last week that a number of Western Conference teams were his preferred destinations, Riley issued a pointed statement. “We will make it clear – we are not trading Jimmy Butler,” he said in a team release. Those comments underscored the saga between Riley and Butler, one that began picking up steam last May, when Miami’s president was noncommittal about giving the veteran an extension over the summer. Butler could have gotten a contract extension worth as much as $113million over two years, but no deal was signed. Now, if Miami don’t trade Butler, they run the risk of potentially losing him for nothing as a free agent next summer. After the star made clear his intention to leave on Thursday night, NBA legend Shaquille O’Neal also shared his thoughts on the situation. O’Neal, who won the NBA Championship with Miami, has weighed in on Butler’s situationGetty Butler has admitted he would be happy anywhere but MiamiGetty Shaq has a unique perspective, since he played for the Heat during his storied career. “I know from personal experience you can’t bicker with Pat Riley,” he told NBA on TNT. “So if Jimmy wants a trade, he’ll definitely be traded… Pat Riley runs the ship there. So Jimmy wants to be traded, and he said publicly he’s not happy there; Pat Riley will definitely oblige him.” Butler is averaging 18 points, 5.7 rebounds and 4.7 assists this season. According to ESPN’s report, teams have been informed that he intends to decline his 2025-26 player option and become a free agent in July. If that happens, there will be no shortage of potential suitors.
Jimmy Butler dropped a bombshell on Thursday night.
The Miami Heat star admitted that he’s unhappy with his current team and believes there’s no way to find ‘joy’ playing in south Florida again.
Speaking after a 128-115 loss to the Indiana Pacers, in which he put up just nine points, Butler indicated that he wants to be traded away from Miami.
“I want to see me getting my joy back playing basketball,” the six-time All-Star said.
“Wherever that may be, we’ll find out here pretty soon.
“I’m happy here off the court, but I want to be back to somewhat dominant, I want to hoop and I want to help this team win, and right now I’m not doing it.”
When pressed by reporters if he can get his joy back on the court with the Heat, Butler responded: “Probably not.”
After the frosty press conference, ESPN reported that the 35-year-old star has indeed indicated he wants the team to trade him, and that he would be happy playing anywhere else – sending social media into meltdown.
But while fans were left stunned by the mess that’s unfolding in Miami, many pointed the finger at Heat president Pat Riley, instead of Butler.
“They will never make me hate you, Jimmy Butler. Pat Riley and company are actively killing my love for the NBA right now. Every single franchise player we ever have in Miami is driven away,” one wrote on X.
“Pat Riley really ran LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Jimmy Butler outta town in a decade span. That’s crazy to me,” another said.
“Jimmy Butler isn’t a villain to me. I don’t blame him. Pat Riley let him down. Sadly, it was leading to this point. We saw this man save the Heat, pull them from the gutter. It’s a shame,” a third suggested.
Reports around Butler’s future have been bubbling for months, and when it was claimed last week that a number of Western Conference teams were his preferred destinations, Riley issued a pointed statement.
“We will make it clear – we are not trading Jimmy Butler,” he said in a team release.
Those comments underscored the saga between Riley and Butler, one that began picking up steam last May, when Miami’s president was noncommittal about giving the veteran an extension over the summer.
Butler could have gotten a contract extension worth as much as $113million over two years, but no deal was signed.
Now, if Miami don’t trade Butler, they run the risk of potentially losing him for nothing as a free agent next summer.
After the star made clear his intention to leave on Thursday night, NBA legend Shaquille O’Neal also shared his thoughts on the situation.
Shaq has a unique perspective, since he played for the Heat during his storied career.
“I know from personal experience you can’t bicker with Pat Riley,” he told NBA on TNT.
“So if Jimmy wants a trade, he’ll definitely be traded… Pat Riley runs the ship there. So Jimmy wants to be traded, and he said publicly he’s not happy there; Pat Riley will definitely oblige him.”
Butler is averaging 18 points, 5.7 rebounds and 4.7 assists this season. According to ESPN’s report, teams have been informed that he intends to decline his 2025-26 player option and become a free agent in July.
If that happens, there will be no shortage of potential suitors.
