Jimmy Butler is no stranger to the emotional rollercoaster that comes with returning to face former teams. He’s experienced it all: the standing ovation and tribute video in Chicago back in 2018, the jeers in Minnesota the following year, and the outright boos during his return to Philadelphia later that same season.
Now, he’s set to make his much-anticipated return to Miami this Tuesday.
Fans can expect a mixed bag of reactions. The Heat will likely roll out a tribute video, a common gesture for former All-Stars. When Butler’s name is announced alongside the Golden State starters, the crowd will erupt—some in cheers, others in boos. This is especially likely given that Butler’s last weeks in Miami were overshadowed by three suspensions that led to his trade to the Warriors last month.
“There are no hard feelings,” Butler stated after the Warriors’ practice at Barry University on Monday. “I’m in a better place now for me.”
Butler made it clear he wanted out, and the Heat eventually granted his request. Since his arrival, the Warriors have posted an impressive 16-3 record with him in the lineup, helping them escape the play-in tournament zone and positioning them for a solid playoff run. Butler appears to be thriving, and the Warriors are reaping the benefits, making it a win-win situation for both parties.
On the flip side, Miami recently ended a 10-game losing streak. The Heat, now likely facing a play-in tournament scenario for their postseason hopes, are still adjusting to life without Butler.
“Obviously, there’ll be a lot of different feelings about it,” Heat coach Erik Spoelstra commented on Butler’s return. “I probably won’t express all of them, and that’s fair. But we had a great five-year run, and we didn’t win the title. Only one team does. We had some great moments here.”
During Butler’s tenure, the Heat reached the Eastern Conference Finals three times, made it to the NBA Finals twice, and racked up 268 wins—including playoffs—over his first five seasons, ranking fifth in the league during that period. However, when he wasn’t offered an extension last summer, the relationship began to fray. His three suspensions for various team rule violations made it clear that he felt a change was necessary. The Heat initially resisted trading him but ultimately had to reconsider.
The Warriors stepped in with an offer that sealed the deal, and now they’re looking like serious title contenders again.
“It’s been amazing. He’s one of the best players in the league. He’s instantly transformed our team,” Warriors coach Steve Kerr said. “We’re 16-4 since we got him. He’s a very unique talent. He’s a superstar, but he’s a subtle superstar. He doesn’t wow you with his leaping ability or shooting prowess or speed. It’s just his brute strength and his brain. He is one of the smartest players I’ve ever been around, and his ability to generate open shot after open shot is impressive. He’s obviously a great two-way player and a hell of a defender. We’re lucky to have him.”
For the record, Butler’s teams have had a mixed bag of results in his return games. He’s gone 1-2 in these matchups throughout his career. Minnesota lost 114-113 at Chicago on February 9, 2018, Philadelphia won 118-109 at Minnesota on March 30, 2019, and Miami lost 113-86 at Philadelphia on November 23, 2019.
Despite the hype surrounding his return, Butler insists that Tuesday will feel like just another day on the court.
“This is basketball. It’s very simple,” Butler said. “I don’t have all the emotions that everybody thinks I’m going to have. It is what it is. I realize we had some great years here. I’ve built some incredible bonds with some individuals in the organization, in the city, hell, in the state of Florida. But I’m going in to hoop. I’m going in to play basketball.”
